Probation Officer I/II

Washington County, MN; Minnesota; On-site; USD 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County, MN is seeking a Probation Officer I/II to provide pre-trial supervision and case management, enhancing public safety and promoting behavior change. You will craft individualized case plans and collaborate with law enforcement and treatment providers to support client success.

Essential requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or related field, plus experience with corrections and trauma-informed practices.

Qualifications

• Trained in evidence-based practices in corrections
• Experience with justice-involved women, trauma history, and victimization
• Experience conducting presentence investigations or court-related investigations
• Training or experience in gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices
• Knowledge of Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and sentencing practices
• Paid experience in a probation department (non-institutional)
• Experience facilitating cognitive skills education programs
• Bi-lingual or multilingual abilities
• Internship/volunteer experience in Washington County

Responsibilities

• Create clients case plans.
• Interview convicted clients.
• Assess risk levels for individuals, victims, and the community.
• Establish and monitor client goals.
• Determine appropriate programs.
• Collaborate with law enforcement and health providers, schools, victims, families, and community agencies.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for supervisor review.
• Attend court hearings and testify as required.
• Implement case plans and monitor probation compliance.
• Maintain regular field visits.
• Use motivational interviewing in client interactions.
• Co-facilitate group interventions.
• Coordinate with community resources to support program completion.

Skills

Evidence-based practices

Gender-responsive practices

Trauma-informed practices

Culturally sensitive communication

Multilingual ability

Washington County internship/volunteer

Education

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, social work, or related field

Job description

A Probation Officer I/II provides pre-trial, supervision and case management services that enhance public safety and facilitate behavior change with clients.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Trained in evidence-based practices in the field of corrections


• Experience working with justice-involved women, particularly individuals with histories of trauma, domestic violence, and/or victimization


• Experience conducting presentence investigations or other comprehensive court-related investigations and preparing investigative reports


• Training or experience in gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices


• Knowledge of Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and sentencing practices


• Paid experience working for a probation department (non-institutional setting) in a county, state, or federal agency


• Experience facilitating a cognitive skills education program


• Skilled in culturally sensitive communication with identified minority populations


• Fluent in more than one language


• Internship or volunteer experience in Washington County

SELECTION TECHNIQUE

Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

HOURS / DAYS

40 hours per week. May include day, evening and weekend hours. Work schedules (hours and days) and location are subject to change based upon department needs.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RATE

$33.93 - $40.12 Hourly

E-Verify Participation

Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

The Probation Officer I works directly with clients through the entire probationary period to create and implement case plans under guidance of supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: This entry-level position requires a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, social work, or related field or equivalent.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE

• Support and prioritize a welcoming and respectful workplace that fosters diversity and encourages contributions from all individuals.


• Provide inclusive and equitable service to all members of the community with dignity and respect.


• Demonstrate support for the County’s diversity, equity and inclusion program.


• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in the workplace.


• Demonstrates knowledge of, or ability to learn, quality/continuous improvement.


• Demonstrates knowledge of probation, the court and community corrections.


• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles, techniques, and practices of criminal justice.


• Demonstrates knowledge of community corrections administration methods and practices.


• Demonstrates knowledge of federal and state criminal laws and a broad understanding of the objectives and functions of the community corrections system.


• Demonstrates knowledge of the justice system and economics.


• Demonstrates considerable knowledge of court procedures.


• Demonstrates interviewing skills.


• Ability to investigative materials effectively.


• Demonstrates skill in conceptualizing client needs and translating them into specific case planning goals.


• Demonstrates understanding of family systems.


• Demonstrates understanding in the differences in individual and group behavior.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Create clients case plans.


2. Interview convicted clients.


3. Assess individual, victim and community risk levels.


4. Establish and monitor clients goals.


5. Determine appropriate programs.


6. Collaborate with law enforcement, mental and chemical health providers, schools, victims, families, and community agencies.


7. Prepare reports and recommendations for supervisor review.


8. Assess impact of offense on victims.


9. Attend court hearings and testify as required.


10. Implement clients case plans.


11. Monitor clients compliance with probation and supervised release terms.


12. Maintain contact through regular field visits at home, office, school, correctional/residential facilities, and employment sites.


13. Intervene with clients using basic evidence-based practices principles that include motivational interviewing.


14. Co-facilitate group interventions for clients.


15. Work with community resources to support clients successful program completion.


16. Maintain contact with victims to restore financial losses and address safety concerns.


17. Complete accurate and timely case management documentation.


18. Transport clients as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is sedentary in nature and may be performed at the Government Center, satellite offices, clients homes, schools, correctional/residential facilities, courtrooms, and employment sites and may include hostile and unsanitary conditions. Lifting requirement of up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to: computer, calculator, telephone, and copier/scanner/fax machine.

Work interruptions are frequent. There is some pressure associated with dealing with individuals who may be emotionally charged and with project or activity deadlines and details. Work includes contact with high-risk clients who may be mentally ill or chemically dependent, making field visits and appearing in court. Exposures may include: communicable diseases, weapons, bodily fluids such or animals that bite.

Additional physical/mental requirements that may occur, may not be listed above, but are inherent performing the position's essential functions.

Must have own means of reliable transportation for business purposes. Individuals operating a motor vehicle for County business must possess a valid driver's license.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and the level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required by personnel so classified. The Country retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.