Adult Probation Officer

Description:

Incumbent serves as Adult Probation Officer for the Probation Department, responsible for investigations, assessments, and supervising probation clients

DUTIES:

Supervises, meets, and monitors assigned probationers for compliance with court ordered conditions of community supervision. Completes risk/need assessments and develops individualized case plans that address behavior change strategies, identifies client needs, and makes appropriate referrals.

Maintains accurate case file and database entries on assigned clients. Conducts client drug screening and monitors payment of court ordered fees. Assists in preparing reports as required.

Conducts presentence investigations and writes comprehensive reports for courts, including researching legal, social history, interviewing offenders, and crime victims, and making sentencing recommendations. Prepares and files notification to courts for probation violations, attending hearings, and testifying/making recommendations in court proceedings and/or to other officials as required.

Transfers supervision of offenders to other jurisdictions as requested, and supervises offenders transferred from other jurisdictions.

Assists in answering phones, providing information, taking messages or directing caller to appropriate department or individual.

Serves as court representative on various task forces, committees, and/or teams as assigned and/or requested.

Prepares and makes public speaking presentations to community groups as assigned.

Obtains continuing education training hours as required by Indiana Office of Court Services.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor Degree, from accredited college or university. Previous Probation Officer experience preferred.

Possession of and ability to pass written exam and successfully complete specified orientation as required for certification as Probation Officer by Indiana Judicial Center and Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) certification.

Must be at least 21 years of age and a United States citizen.

Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of local, state and federal regulations, and standard policies and procedures of juvenile and criminal code.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, probationers and their families, attorneys, community service agencies, counselors, court and law enforcement personnel, and members of the public including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to State requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer and department polices and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to properly operate a computer, maintain accurate and organized files, and prepare detailed reports as required.

Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment with minimum supervision, and work on several tasks at the same time, work rapidly for long periods, often under time pressure.

Ability to provide testimony in legal proceedings.

Ability to occasionally work weekend, evening and/or extended hours, and occasionally travel out of town for training, sometimes overnight.

DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent performs a variety of duties which are broad in scope and require application of sound judgment based on education, experience and training. Daily decisions are frequently based on consideration of many variables.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent works according to standard Department policies and procedures, and standard practices of the profession, exercising independent judgment in recommending disposition of assigned probationers. Work is periodically reviewed for soundness of judgment, attainment of objectives, and compliance with Department policies and procedures.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, probationers and their families, attorneys, community service agencies, counselors, court and law enforcement personnel, and members of the public for purposes of exchanging and explaining information.

Incumbent reports directly to Chief Probation Officer or Deputy Chief Probation Officer.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs a majority of duties in an office environment and in a courtroom, which may involve sitting/standing/walking at will, standing/walking for long periods, climbing flights of stairs, lifting/carrying objects weighing less than 25 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, bending/reaching, crouching/kneeling, keyboarding, close/far vision, color/depth perception, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, and handling/grasping/fingering objects.

Incumbent may be exposure to potentially violent/irate individuals.

Incumbent occasionally works weekend, evening and/or extended hours, and occasionally travels out of town for training, sometimes overnight.