PRO Probation Officer

Adams County Health Department; Quincy (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

The Adams County Probation Department in Quincy, Illinois seeks a Probation Officer to interview clients, prepare Presentence Investigations, and manage a caseload under supervision.

Requires a Bachelor's degree and residency within Illinois (or close to the Adams County Courthouse); willingness to work a variable schedule; pass a background check and pre-employment drug test. Proficiency with Outlook, Word and Excel is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug test.
• Knowledge of Outlook, Word, and Excel is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Officer of the Day and Secondary Officer of the day completing client intakes and problem-solving client questions in their Probation Officers’ absence.
• Complete investigations into client background concerning Presentence Investigations (PSI’s), including criminal history, health history and conditions, family situation and background, economic status, education, occupation, and personal habits.
• Assess actuarial risk/need through department assessment instrument and utilize trailer tools as needed.
• Work with the client to understand the assessment results and develop a case plan addressing criminogenic needs and responsivity.
• Maintain case notes and attend court hearings; represent the department before groups and individuals.

Skills

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

• Salary/Pay Rate: $25.69 / hour ($53,435.20 annually)
• Posted Date: 09/22/2026

HOURS: 40 hours per week – Monday through Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm – occasional evenings

The Adams County Probation Department strives to fulfill our vision of Protecting Our Community by Changing Lives. Our department of 19 Probation Officers and 4 support staff serve the citizens of Adams County and the Judiciary by being Agents of Change and providing evidence-based services and support to the clients assigned to our department.

The Probation Officer position is responsible for interviewing clients, preparing Presentence Investigation reports, and overseeing a caseload as assigned. This position is supported by a supervisor and Chief Probation Officer.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Serve as Officer of the Day and Secondary Officer of the day completing client intakes and problem-solving client questions in their Probation Officers’ absence.
2. 2. Complete investigations into client background concerning Presentence Investigations (PSI’s), including
3. criminal history, physical and mental health history and conditions, family situation and background, economic status, education, occupation, and personal habits.
4. 3. Assess actuarial risk/need through department assessment instrument and utilize trailer tools as needed.
5. 4. Work with the client to understand the assessment results and develop a case plan that addresses the offender’s greatest criminogenic needs (those directly linked to their criminal behavior). Be responsive to the offender’s unique issues (responsivity) and deliver interventions in the correct amount (dosage).
6. 5. Make appropriate program or service referrals.
7. 6. Enhance intrinsic motivation through knowledge of the stages of change and utilization of motivational interviewing techniques.
8. 7. Utilize cognitive behavioral methods that examine thinking and attitudes. Reinforce offender change talk and self-efficacy.
9. 8. Use evidence-based verbal and non-verbal communication skills to include reflections, summarizations, affirmations, and open-ended questions to gather information and facilitate change. Explore the offender’s ambivalence to positive change.
10. 9. Utilize positive reinforcement to acknowledge any evidence of pro-social behavior or verbal statements on the part of the offender. Convey optimism that the offender can change.
11. 10. Engage ongoing support in natural communities. Realign offenders with pro-social support systems in their communities to sustain behavior change.
12. 11. Contribute to public safety by promoting positive changes in offenders’ behavior.
13. 12. Maintain case notes. Case files must be up-to-date, organized and complete.
14. 13. Attend court hearings. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of offender compliance/behavior to report such at review hearings.
15. 14. Maintain a productive working relationship with all agencies, individuals (especially victims) and governmental units with whom the department interacts.
16. 15. Represent and promote the department’s vision, mission and philosophy before groups and individuals.
17. 16. Identify ways to improve department procedures and processes.
18. 17. Anticipate and appropriately respond to emergencies.
19. 19. Collect urine specimens for drug testing and saliva specimens for DNA testing.
20. 20. Share on-call duties with other officers (juvenile officers only).
21. 21. Respond to needs, requests, and requirements of local Judiciary.

We are looking for someone who can establish working relationships with a wide array of people and work under stressful circumstances. A good candidate would have good problem solving, organizational, oral, written and computer skills, while also possessing qualities of integrity, professionalism, dependability, confidentiality, flexibility, and a willingness to learn new skills. They would exhibit the ability and drive to thrive in a team environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Be a resident of the State of Illinois within 90 days of the date of appointment or live within 40 miles of the Adams County Courthouse if residing in Missouri or Iowa.
• Availability to work a variable schedule.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug test.
• Knowledge of Outlook, Word, and Excel is preferred.

The County of Adams is an Equal Opportunity Employer