Probation Officer/Probation Officer - Bilingual (Criminal)

New Jersey Courts; New Brunswick (NJ); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Judiciary seeks an organized, detail-oriented professional for the Middlesex Vicinage Criminal Division. You will interview clients to determine indigency eligibility, prepare detailed reports, and coordinate court schedules across in-person and virtual settings.

Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, plus the ability to analyze case processing issues and train colleagues, are essential for success in this role with potential remote work up to two days.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any area.
• Ability to interview clients and determine indigency eligibility.
• Strong written communication and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to perform duties across court processes and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Interview clients in office, jails, holding cells or via video/phone to determine eligibility for representation and to prepare reports.
• Coordinate judges' calendars and scheduling for court proceedings; manage attorney availability.
• Moderate virtual court hearings and attorney conferences using current technology.
• Analyze backlog reports and implement actions to improve case processing and workflow.
• Provide lead work, training, and contribute to operating procedures as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Problem-solving

Reasoning

Written communication

Technical competence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

If another position becomes available within five months of this recruitment’s closing date, the applicant pool from this posting may be used to fill additional vacancies.

When you come to work for New Jersey Judiciary you will join an 8500-member strong TEAM that operates with the highest standards of independence, integrity, fairness and quality service. You will be engaged with work that has purpose, meaning and makes a difference in lives of the public we serve. We work hard every day to build the public’s trust and confidence in our court system, which includes issues such as bail reform, marijuana decriminalization and recovery court. Whether it be in a courtroom, an administrative office, a courthouse training room, an IT office or in the field, our Judiciary workforce is improving the lives of countless individuals and families every day. We honor the dignity and individualism of each member of our organization while fostering professionalism and continuous improvement in our work.

SALARY: The salary range for this position is $55,943.00 to $95,153.11 for Schedule A, and $55,943.00 to $91,346.99 for Schedule B. For newly hired individuals, the starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the salary range. For current Judiciary employees, salary upon promotion or advancement will be an increase of 5% of base salary, not to exceed the maximum of the range, or the minimum salary of the band/level, whichever is greater. Judiciary employees hired prior to October 31, 2015 are considered Schedule A. Newly hired individuals, and Judiciary employees hired on or after October 31, 2015, are considered Schedule B.

The Judiciary offers a strong opportunity for growth.

The Middlesex Vicinage Criminal Division is currently seeking organized and detail-oriented candidates with excellent interpersonal, customer service, problem-solving, reasoning, written communication and technical competence skills. The successful candidate(s) will interview clients in the office, county jails, holding cells and/or via video or telephone to determine indigency eligibility for public defender representation and/or to prepare detailed comprehensive Pre-Sentence Investigator and/or Pre-Trial Intervention reports, to include researching criminal history records and contacting other agencies to provide a complete prior court history and other pertinent information; regularly communicate with judges, managers and court staff to provide case status and case issues; screen cases for Recovery Court eligibility in accordance with existing laws and regulations; an/or provide master level support tasks in connection with court proceedings, including but not limited to, coordinating judges' daily/monthly calendars including scheduling dates and times for court proceedings in compliance with operating standards; coordinating attorney availability and readiness for court proceedings, including approval of requests for adjournments; moderate virtual court hearings and attorney conferences using new and existing technology; analyze case processing issues and make recommendations to rectify; review and analyze backlog reports with Judge/Division Manager and take appropriate action to reduce backlog; confer with judges regarding policies and assist in implementing courtroom procedures that will improve case processing and workflow; act as lead worker to team members or other group of non-subordinates in assigned tasks and provide training or cross-training to co-workers; develop and/or implement operating procedures or systems; inform managers about unresolved issues or team conflicts; perform related duties as assigned.

REMOTE WORK:

The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings. To participate in this program, in addition to installing a multifactor authentication app on your phone or tablet, you will be required to have high speed home internet access.

• Report Writing and Case Analysis
• Client Interviews
• Scheduling, Coordination and Moderation of Court Proceedings (in-court and/or virtually)
• Customer Service

Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in any area, which includes or is supplemented by 24 credit hours in the behavioral or social sciences.
• Applicants who are approaching their anticipated graduation date may apply. If selected, the applicant must complete their degree no later than their start date.
• Applicants are required to submit a photocopy of their transcript at the time of application. If selected, an official college or university transcript is required prior to start date.

Qualifications for Advancement Candidates

• Open to Judiciary employees who have an aggregate of one year of permanent service in the career (classified) service title(s) of Investigator or Investigator Bilingual and possess a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in any area, which includes or is supplemented by 24 credit hours in the behavioral or social sciences
• Applicants who are approaching their anticipated graduation date may apply. If selected, the applicant must complete their degree no later than their start date
• Applicants are required to submit a photocopy of their transcript at the time of application. If selected, an official college or university transcript is required prior to start date.

Qualifications for Lateral Candidates

• Open to Judiciary employees who are currently in the title of Probation Officer or Probation Officer-Bilingual and who have one year of permanent service as of the announced closing date.

Education Note: Degrees conferred outside of the United States must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service. (See https://naces.org/members/)

Note: Key entry-level professional positions will be filled as they become available in the Criminal, Family and Probation Divisions. Selected candidates may be assigned to any of these divisions.

Veterans Status

Are you a veteran? If so, please indicate this information in your cover letter and/or resume. For information on Veteran's Preference, please visit the NJ Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs website at http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/preference.

BICAT Testing: Candidates selected to serve in a bilingual variant title must pass the New Jersey Civil Service Commission BICAT performance examination or provide proof of having established bilingual proficiency with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission

Driver's License: Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Authorization to Work: US citizenship is not required. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

Special Note: Newly hired employees must agree to a thorough background check that will include fingerprinting. All data received will be kept in strict confidence except to inform the individual of the findings and what action will be taken as a result of this information.

Residency Law: In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary within one year must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Any person may request an exemption from that requirement from the Employee Residency Review Committee in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on the basis of either hardship or employer critical need.

The Judiciary of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action

Employer Committed to Ensuring an Open Door to Justice