Juvenile Court Officer

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Probation Manager, investigates the background of delinquent youth in order to assist the Court in determining the optimum disposition or placement of each juvenile. Assesses, monitors, and supervises youth referred to the Court and assists family members of assigned juveniles in modifying the juvenile's behavior. Develops and coordinates goals, interventions, and strategies and evaluates progress. Conducts risk/needs assessments to determine criminogenic factors and proper placement within the Court's continuum of services. Prepares court reports, inputs data, and makes referrals to agencies for evaluation or treatment. Provides surveillance within the community to monitor curfew and/or possession of contraband, and performs drug testing as needed.

This is a full-time, benefited position working at the Family Justice Center located at the Fillmore Complex at 12240 Fillmore St, West Olive, MI. The typical working schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts predisposition investigations, including administration of risk assessment instrument for assigned delinquency cases, including reviewing documentation and conducting interviews to establish school, work, social and criminal histories of juvenile offenders. Develops and implements individual case plans for assigned youths designed to meet short and long-term rehabilitative goals; modifies the plan as appropriate. May investigate and provide recommendations to the Court on minor guardianships and adoption home studies.
• Prepares appropriate court reports to articulate the risk and needs of the juvenile and family, assisting the court in determining the most appropriate disposition of each case, attends court hearings of assigned juveniles and responds to questions of the judge or referee. Recommends dispositional alternatives to the court, including probationary terms, treatment programs, restitution, victims' rights action, removal from the home or other actions. Assumes responsibility for ensuring the disposition of the case is carried out and court orders are enforced.
• Supervises and responds to juveniles placed on probation or on informal supervision. Visits youth in the community (home, school, work, etc.) and at the court and counsels them on a variety of emotional, psychological and behavioral problems. Monitors and evaluates the juvenile's progress and responds to violations. Works a flexible and non-traditional schedule (including evenings and weekends) and collaborates with the others, including the detention center, in monitoring the juvenile's behavior and compliance with court orders.
• Coordinates role of appropriate community agencies including substance and mental health treatment centers, residential programs, community service work, educational programs, psychological, sexual, and substance abuse evaluations, job placement and training, and various other agencies. Coordinates the design and implementation of services to assigned youths with such agencies.
• Explains court process, orders, and requirements, such as sex offender registration, driver's license sanctions and juvenile record to juveniles and parents.
• Provides ongoing therapeutic and evidence based interventions of assigned juveniles through family, individual, and group therapy and crisis resolution, providing advice on how to improve the family situation and resolve conflicts to delinquent juveniles and their families.
• Evaluates the juvenile's needs and safety risk to the community and recommends placement decisions. Considers alternative care and custody options including parent or guardian home, detention, foster placement, psychiatric or substance abuse treatment facility or any other appropriate placement.
• Enters case notes, risk assessment, contact and drug testing information; updates demographic information; prepares court orders, develops case plans, enrolls the juvenile in programs or classes, and sends alerts to others involved with the juvenile in the Court's case management system, maintains files on assigned cases to include all legal documentation, correspondence, evaluations, and other documentation related to the case.
• Helps support an equitable, safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, criminal justice or related area combined with two (2) years' experience in casework and/or supervision of juveniles under court jurisdiction. Master's Degree and/or two (2) or more years of experience in supervising juveniles strongly preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Thorough working knowledge of the Michigan Court Rules, Michigan Juvenile Code and the Michigan Judicial Institute's Juvenile Justice Bench Book principles and practices of probation and case management, including graduated sanctions and evidence-based treatment strategies.
• Thorough working knowledge of the principles and practices of child and youth guidance and counseling.
• Ability to interact positively and professionally with youth, family members, treatment providers, volunteers, community representatives, school administrators and teachers, medical and mental health practitioners, attorneys, officers of the court and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with widely divergent communications skills.
• Excellent verbal and written skills. Proficiency in computers including internet, word processing, spreadsheet, database management and data collection, as necessary, program assessment and evaluation.
• Ability to interact with youth in a positive, patient and caring manner while maintaining appropriate discipline, boundaries and structure.

• Must maintain freedom from tuberculosis, as certified by appropriate medical testing.
• Must possess sufficient visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, to visually monitor clients in surveillance check site visits and to read results of drug and alcohol tests.
• Must possess sufficient auditory acuity, with or without audiological appliances, to monitor clients in all settings.
• Must possess sufficient strength and mobility to subdue and restrain clients if and when necessary.

• Work is performed in both a normal office environment and in client homes, schools, worksites and other community locations.
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens while attempting to subdue or restrain a client and to other bodily fluids when administering drug and alcohol tests.
• Employees in this classification must be able and available to work flexible hours, evening and weekends, in order to conduct home, school and worksite visits at random hours to monitor clients in the community.
• Employees in this classification must be able to provide their own transportation to and from site visits with clients.

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Probation Manager, investigates the background of delinquent youth in order to assist the Court in determining the optimum disposition or placement of each juvenile. Assesses, monitors, and supervises youth referred to the Court and assists family members of assigned juveniles in modifying the juvenile's behavior. Develops and coordinates goals, interventions, and strategies and evaluates progress. Conducts risk/needs assessments to determine criminogenic factors and proper placement within the Court's continuum of services. Prepares court reports, inputs data, and makes referrals to agencies for evaluation or treatment. Provides surveillance within the community to monitor curfew and/or possession of contraband, and performs drug testing as needed.

This is a full-time, benefited position working at the Family Justice Center located at the Fillmore Complex at 12240 Fillmore St, West Olive, MI. The typical working schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts predisposition investigations, including administration of risk assessment instrument for assigned delinquency cases, including reviewing documentation and conducting interviews to establish school, work, social and criminal histories of juvenile offenders. Develops and implements individual case plans for assigned youths designed to meet short and long-term rehabilitative goals; modifies the plan as appropriate. May investigate and provide recommendations to the Court on minor guardianships and adoption home studies.
• Prepares appropriate court reports to articulate the risk and needs of the juvenile and family, assisting the court in determining the most appropriate disposition of each case, attends court hearings of assigned juveniles and responds to questions of the judge or referee. Recommends dispositional alternatives to the court, including probationary terms, treatment programs, restitution, victims' rights action, removal from the home or other actions. Assumes responsibility for ensuring the disposition of the case is carried out and court orders are enforced.
• Supervises and responds to juveniles placed on probation or on informal supervision. Visits youth in the community (home, school, work, etc.) and at the court and counsels them on a variety of emotional, psychological and behavioral problems. Monitors and evaluates the juvenile's progress and responds to violations. Works a flexible and non-traditional schedule (including evenings and weekends) and collaborates with the others, including the detention center, in monitoring the juvenile's behavior and compliance with court orders.
• Coordinates role of appropriate community agencies including substance and mental health treatment centers, residential programs, community service work, educational programs, psychological, sexual, and substance abuse evaluations, job placement and training, and various other agencies. Coordinates the design and implementation of services to assigned youths with such agencies.
• Explains court process, orders, and requirements, such as sex offender registration, driver's license sanctions and juvenile record to juveniles and parents.
• Provides ongoing therapeutic and evidence based interventions of assigned juveniles through family, individual, and group therapy and crisis resolution, providing advice on how to improve the family situation and resolve conflicts to delinquent juveniles and their families.
• Evaluates the juvenile's needs and safety risk to the community and recommends placement decisions. Considers alternative care and custody options including parent or guardian home, detention, foster placement, psychiatric or substance abuse treatment facility or any other appropriate placement.
• Enters case notes, risk assessment, contact and drug testing information; updates demographic information; prepares court orders, develops case plans, enrolls the juvenile in programs or classes, and sends alerts to others involved with the juvenile in the Court's case management system, maintains files on assigned cases to include all legal documentation, correspondence, evaluations, and other documentation related to the case.
• Helps support an equitable, safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, criminal justice or related area combined with two (2) years' experience in casework and/or supervision of juveniles under court jurisdiction. Master's Degree and/or two (2) or more years of experience in supervising juveniles strongly preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Thorough working knowledge of the Michigan Court Rules, Michigan Juvenile Code and the Michigan Judicial Institute's Juvenile Justice Bench Book principles and practices of probation and case management, including graduated sanctions and evidence-based treatment strategies.
• Thorough working knowledge of the principles and practices of child and youth guidance and counseling.
• Ability to interact positively and professionally with youth, family members, treatment providers, volunteers, community representatives, school administrators and teachers, medical and mental health practitioners, attorneys, officers of the court and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with widely divergent communications skills.
• Excellent verbal and written skills. Proficiency in computers including internet, word processing, spreadsheet, database management and data collection, as necessary, program assessment and evaluation.
• Ability to interact with youth in a positive, patient and caring manner while maintaining appropriate discipline, boundaries and structure.

• Must maintain freedom from tuberculosis, as certified by appropriate medical testing.
• Must possess sufficient visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, to visually monitor clients in surveillance check site visits and to read results of drug and alcohol tests.
• Must possess sufficient auditory acuity, with or without audiological appliances, to monitor clients in all settings.
• Must possess sufficient strength and mobility to subdue and restrain clients if and when necessary.

• Work is performed in both a normal office environment and in client homes, schools, worksites and other community locations.
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens while attempting to subdue or restrain a client and to other bodily fluids when administering drug and alcohol tests.
• Employees in this classification must be able and available to work flexible hours, evening and weekends, in order to conduct home, school and worksite visits at random hours to monitor clients in the community.
• Employees in this classification must be able to provide their own transportation to and from site visits with clients.

This position is benefited and is in the Ottawa County Juvenile Court Employees Association bargaining unit.

Ottawa County offers a wide range of benefits to support you in your career. View the Benefits Summary for more information.

The current Ottawa County Juvenile Court Employees Association collective bargaining agreement can be viewed here. The pay scale can be found here.

**Part-time benefitted positions will receive prorated benefits.