PROBATION OFFICER SPECIALIZED UNIT JUVENILE OFFENDER PROGRAM - Juvenile Services

Tarrant County; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County is seeking a Juvenile Probation Officer to receive and evaluate police referrals involving youths, interview families, and prepare court reports. You will supervise cases in Court and coordinate services with community agencies, while ensuring safety and compliance with department policies.

The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree, has substantial casework experience, and may substitute graduate study for experience. Bilingual Spanish is preferred for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1750 hours of full-time casework, counseling, community or group work.
• One year of graduate study may substitute for required experience.
• Ability to obtain/maintain TJJD Juvenile Probation Officer certification.
• Annual training in Non-Violent Physical Restraint, verbal de-escalation, and self-defense.

Responsibilities

• Receive referrals from police agencies and schools within Tarrant County and assess background factors.
• Conduct intake interviews and determine case referral to District Attorney’s Office for legal action.
• Prepare and submit court reports for court proceedings; attend hearings and provide information to the Court.
• Provide supervision and casework objectives through interviewing and counseling with clients and families.
• Develop case plans for youth and conduct reviews per department policy; provide post supervision.
• Coordinate with community agencies and treatment services as needed.
• Maintain and update dictation reflecting contacts and casework with clients, families, victims, and service providers.

Skills

Counseling

Interviewing

Verbal communication

Written communication

Bilingual Spanish (preferred)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate study substitution (criminology, corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology)

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.