Pre-Trial Services Screener

Buncombe County Government; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Buncombe County Government is hiring Pre-Trial Services Screeners to facilitate the court process by conducting assessments and interviews with detained individuals. Applicants must possess relevant experience in criminal justice fields, ideally with a high school diploma or higher education, to support the Pretrial Program effectively. This role involves multitasking between various court-related environments and offers structured work schedules with additional flexibility possible.

Benefits

Free parking

Flexible scheduling

Qualifications

• Four years of paraprofessional experience required.
• Certification as Pretrial Services Professional preferred.
• Experience in the criminal justice system is important.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Pretrial Release screening and assessments.
• Interview defendants regarding mental health and substance abuse.
• Prepare Public Safety Assessment Reports for magistrates.

Skills

Interviewing techniques

Information verification

Knowledge of court procedures

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree in Criminal Justice

Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice

Job description

Pre-Trial Services Screener page is loaded

Pre-Trial Services Screener

Apply locations Asheville, NC time type Full time posted on Posted 3 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: June 25, 2025 (10 days left to apply) job requisition id R04521 This job posting expires at 11:59PM onJune 24, 2025.No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM onJune 24, 2025.Job Title: Pre-Trial Services Screener Department:Justice ServicesExternal Hiring Range:$22.51-$26.29 Posted Internally and Externally

Buncombe County's Justice Services Department is hiring for multiple Pretrial Services Screeners. These screeners will all work together to support our Pretrial Program and will report to our Pretrial Screener Supervisor. The Pretrial Program consists of 14 positions working at various levels to help Court Officials with their decisions in court cases by providing complete criminal background information and supports people who have been detained and released. This position typically completes first appearance, bond review, and enrollment interviews within the County's Detention Center, completes public safety assessments, conducts criminal record checks, and processes assignments from Court for pretrial supervision.

Pretrial screeners will work from an office located in the Judicial Complex at 60 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, behind the old courthouse. The screeners work in person and frequently go back and forth between our Pretrial office, the Detention Center, and various courtrooms. The work schedule is Monday to Friday and is varied. Work can start as early as 7AM and go as late as 6PM with flexibility in the hours, with only occasional overtime required. We encourage employees to flex their schedule to work 40 hours per week whenever possible.

Free parking is provided for all County employees across the street in our parking deck at 164 College Street.

Purpose of the position:

The purpose of this position is to perform administrative and coordinative work assisting accused individuals with the various processes associated with the court system to alleviate overcrowding in the County Jail.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): High school diploma or GED and four (4) years of paraprofessional experience; or Associate degree (60 college credits) and at least one (1) year criminal justice experience; or Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Training and Experience: Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Peer Support Specialist, or qualified mental health and/or substance abuse professional preferred.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: Eligible to become Division of Criminal Information Network (DCIN) Certified is required; and the ability to obtain Certification as Pretrial Services Professional (CPSP) is preferred.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Conduct Pretrial Release screening at point of intake/magistrate level for arrested individuals.

• Check Jail Management Systems (JMS), National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Administrative Office of the Court Automated Criminal Infractions System (AOC ACIS) and NC Warrant Repository (NCAWARE) computer systems for criminal history and Failure to Appear history.

• Complete the Public Safety Assessment.

• Consult the Release Decision Matrix and recommend appropriate release conditions.

• Prepare Public Service Assessment Reports for use by magistrates and judges during the release decision process.

• Interview defendant to determine mental health, substance abuse and veteran status.

• Review daily jail roster and identify potential clients for bond review or pretrial release; perform brief record check on the NCIC computer terminals upon identifying potential clients and actual warrants for the charges are reviewed; run a misdemeanor report and distribute according to procedures.

• Interview prospective clients with regard to representation in court, extensively interview persons who choose to represent themselves with regard to their probability of making bond, place of residence, family ties, employment, pending charges, prior convictions, number of failures to appear, probation, and amount of cash on hand. Verify as much information as possible and present verified information in District Court.

• Prepare various reports and uses or distributes, as necessary.

• Conduct quality assurance reviews to ensure fidelity of the process.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of practices and procedures of the court system and various ways to expedite the processing of inmates through the court system.

• Considerable knowledge of modern interviewing procedures and techniques.

• General knowledge of information verification techniques including the use of JMS, NCIS, NCAWARE computer terminals.

• General knowledge of local laws, ordinances and the North Carolina General Statutes pertaining to the commitment, confinement, and release of inmates.

• Ability to interview potential clients and verify information gathered.

• Ability to present accurate information in court in an appropriate manner.

• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.

• Ability to perform duties of the job independently.

• Ability to type with accuracy at the speed required by the particular position.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

Employees in positions that are approved for remote work must reside within a 2-hour drive from the position's assigned Buncombe County facility.

Select a job and click the blue Apply button to complete your application. Please attach a resume and cover letter if possible. Then, submit your application by the Job Posting End Date to be considered.

Our hiring managers begin reviewing applications after the Job Posting End Dateand will contactapplicants soon after. Thank you for your patience as we give each application the time and attention that it deserves.

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. If you haveequivalent experience and/or education we encourage you to apply.