PROBATION OFFICER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT - Juvenile Services

Tarrant County; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County seeks a Juvenile Probation Officer to receive referrals from police and schools and guide cases through disposition with the District Attorney and Court. You will interview youths and families, develop case plans, and coordinate treatments with community resources while ensuring safety and compliance.

The role demands strong counseling, interviewing, and written reporting skills, plus the ability to manage juvenile supervision in court, court transport, and community settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 1,750 hours of full-time casework, counseling or related experience.
• One year of graduate study may substitute for experience.
• Ability to obtain Texas Juvenile Justice Department certification as Juvenile Probation Officer.
• Annual training in non-violent physical restraint, de-escalation and self‑defense.
• Valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receive, review and evaluate police referrals involving juveniles and determine actions.
• Prepare reports for presentation to the Court and provide supervision of cases.
• Counsel juveniles and families in development and rehabilitation.
• Provide safe supervision of juveniles in courtroom, transport, or custody locations.
• Coordinate treatment with community agencies and services as needed.
• Maintain records and dictation of contacts and case progress.
• Coordinate actions with staff and outside authorities on case progression.
• Transport clients, family members and victims for court and community service.
• Intervene in crises with verbal de-escalation and restraint when required.
• Ensure victims are advised of their rights and restitution where applicable.
• Schedule supervision contacts and provide direct services to victims as needed.
• May collect data and prepare statistical reports.
• Provide behavioral support and counseling within specialized programs.

Skills

Counseling

Interviewing

Verbal communication

Written communication

Bilingual Spanish

Crisis intervention

Case management

Non-violent restraint

Education

Bachelor’s degree

1,750 hours casework/related experience

Job description

Receive, review and evaluate police referrals from law enforcement agencies involving juveniles.Determine appropriate actions through the interview process.Prepare reports for presentation to the Court.Provide supervision of cases under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court and Juvenile Services. Counsel and assist juveniles and their families in development rehabilitation.Provide safe and secure supervision of juveniles while in the Courtroom, while transporting, or in any other location when youth is in custody.Provide assistance and services to victims.

1. Receives referrals from police agencies and school districts within Tarrant County and assesses background factors in order to facilitate the disposition of the case
2. Conducts intake interviews and makes determination on referral of case to the District Attorney’s Office for legal action. Coordinates all procedures involved until the case is completed
3. Prepares and submits court reports for court proceedings.Attends court hearings and provides information to the Court as required
4. Provides court ordered and non-court-ordered supervision.Establishes and performs casework objectives through interviewing and counseling with client and family in the office, school and in the field
5. Develops case plans for assigned youth and conducts reviews in accordance with department policy and provides post supervision as well
6. Accesses community agencies and coordinates treatment for clients, families and victims as needed
7. Maintains and updates chronological dictation reflecting contacts and casework initiated with clients, family members, victims, school officials and service providers
8. Coordinates actions with staff and outside authorities concerning case progression
9. Transports clients, family members and victims for court and community service appointments
10. Intervenes in situations involving youth who display aggressive and self-injurious behaviors with crisis intervention, counseling, verbal de-escalation, physical and mechanical restraint, when the youth is under his/her direct supervision. Must be trained annuallyin the Department's approved non-violent physical restraint techniques, including verbal de-escalation and self-defense.
11. Ensures that victims are advised of their rights.Develops victim’s restitution agreements.
12. Schedules supervision contacts with clients
13. Provides direct services to victims as needed
14. May collect data and prepare statistical reports
15. Provides behavioral support and counseling intervention within specialized programs
16. Performs all other related duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of 1,750 hours of full-time casework, counseling, community or group work, or related experience in a social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons required.
• One (1) year full-time graduate study in criminology, corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology or a related field may substitute for required experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain current certification by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as a Juvenile Probation Officer.
• Ability to participate in Non-Violent Physical Restraint, with annual training in verbal de-escalation, self-defense, and physical restraint components of the training.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile liability insurance.
• Skilled in counseling and interviewing and have a good working knowledge of community referral resources.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to lift and transport case files to court, sit, walk, stand and work with unpredictable and potentially violent clients/probationers.May be exposed to communicable and contagious diseases, and the potential for physical and mechanical restraint situations involving juveniles who are violent and self destructive.