Probation Officer - District Court

Description

Essential Functions

• Interviews and gathers information on background, length of time in the community, ties to the community, and other relevant data from defendants housed in the Ingham County Jail or who have been released on bond. Identifies and/or verifies sources of income during initial interviews.
• Reviews the background of persons awaiting sentencing on district court convictions, including interviewing the defendant, reviewing the complaint report, criminal history, driving record, and other pertinent information. Makes calls to employers and others to verify or collect information. Contacts victims and verifies restitution data.
• Verifies information gathered through criminal history checks utilizing programs including CourtView or other case management systems, Judicial Information Services (JIS), Judicial Data Warehouse (JDW), Statewide Records Management System (SRMS), Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) reports, and other sources to determine criminal history, status in the criminal justice system and to assess the likelihood of pretrial misconduct.
• Uses independent judgment and discretion to interpret collected data. Prepares bond, risk or substance use assessment, pre-sentence and probation violation reports which include a summary of information from the police and defendant, social and criminal history, and alcohol assessment results. Makes a judgment based on the information gathered and prepares recommendations on the most proper court action, including incarceration, tether program, alternative sentences, or other measures. As required by the Crime Victim’s Rights Act, includes written statements from victims of any physical or emotional injury or economic restitution owed the victim.
• Supervises the offender during the term of bond and/or probation and ensures full compliance with probation orders. Monitors and verifies house arrest, drug testing, AA attendance, sex offender registration, and other required conditions of probation.
• Evaluates eligible defendants and submit referrals for potential placement into the problem-solving court programs at the 55th District and other local Courts.
• Review procedures with new probationers, including explaining the order of probation and court policies and procedures, scheduling report days and appointments, and processing necessary record.
• Uses professional judgment and discretion to identify and assess the defendant’s needs in areas including physical and mental health, substance abuse, employment counseling and school enrollment. Prepares and provides community resource referral information. Maintains regular contact with such agencies to discuss the compliance and progress of the client. Writes and submits related reports for judicial review.
• Initiates show cause or bench warrants when the probationer fails to comply with the terms of probation. Documents allegations of non-compliance, requests subpoenas, or witness participation if needed.
• Updates and maintains court and probation records to reflect the most recent contact information for all defendants in supervision status. Ensures that the Court, Prosecuting Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, or retained counsel have access to all current contact information.
• Actively monitors and supervises defendants; verifies they understand the conditions of their pretrial release or probation terms. Notifies defendants of scheduled court dates and maintains regular contact from pretrial status through to adjudication and/or probation discharge. Makes every effort to ensure that the defendant continues to comply with all conditions of release and/or probation.
• Authors supervision summary reports that highlight the defendants’ relevant supervision and monitoring information for the Judge’s consideration, review, and action.
• Prepares and submits reports to the prosecutor, defense counsel, and judge if the defendant is non-compliant with terms and conditions of release. Initiates show cause notices, appears in court, and provides testimony and evidence of non-compliance. Makes recommendations to the court to continue, modify or revoke bond and/or probation.
• Administers Preliminary Breath Tests when it is suspected the defendant has consumed alcohol and/or drugs, refers probationers to the lab for drug screening, interprets the results, and takes further action as needed.
• Analyzes financial information provided by the parties and their employers, including wage documentation, child care verification, medical cost and insurance documentation, and records relating to unemployment, disability, and other financial sources. Monitors payment records, including fines, costs, and restitution owed to the court by probationers. Sets up payment plans with probationers.
• Responds to requests for information from the defendant and or counsel, court staff, jail personnel, and the prosecutor’s office. Prepares various reports, forms, documents, and other correspondence, including out-of-state travel requests and employment requests for the Judge or Judicial Staff upon their request.
• On a statewide and county level, collaborates with specialty court programs and other intra/interdepartmental Pretrial and Probation offices; shares allowable information regarding the supervision, pretrial compliance, and case progress of defendants. Strategically coordinates with these departments to reduce redundancies in testing and monitoring defendants and manages court resources effectively.
• Exercises judgment and discretion when sharing information related to the treatment, rehabilitation, or case supervision of defendants with correctional and detention facilities, probation offices, public and private mental health providers, attorneys, and staff.
• Practices time management strategies to maintain accurate case files. Proficient in using case management software, business software, imaging systems, and other case management technologies.
• Service defendants remotely which requires frequent use of computer software and internet technologies designed to maintain a high level of security for the confidential information that is frequently used in the investigation and supervision processes.
• Reviews and analyzes technical and legal documents relating to the case, including police reports, motions, transcripts, evaluations, and child protective proceedings documents.
• Facilitates the apprehension of persons subject to probation bench warrants by notifying police of individuals in the community or court officers of individuals in the office with outstanding warrants.
• Discharges probationers upon a final evaluation and determination that all conditions of probation have been met as ordered.
• Prepares a variety of court forms, letters, reports, and other documents. Enters and retrieves information from the court’s computer programs.
• Responds to telephone calls from probationers and community agencies regarding monitoring, compliance, assistance, and other offender-related issues. Participates and serves on boards and committees with local agencies.
• Assists in maintaining the specialty court records database by inputting all required information into the records management system regarding all specialty court defendants. Generates statistical data upon request.
• Participates in the probation internship program by training interns. Supervises and evaluates intern performance. Advises the chief probation officer of intern performance for reporting to academic institution.
• Adheres to all Departmental Standards in regards to LEIN, IT Security Awareness and all other privacy and confidentiality standards. Carries out all duties within the court environment in such a way as to maintain the security, safety and integrity of all persons working in or served by the Court.

Employment Qualifications

Requirements and Working Conditions

Working Conditions:

• Regular contact with persons charged and/or convicted of criminal offenses.

• Travel throughout the County.

• May need to climb stairs on to conduct checks at a variety of locations.

• Ability to access client and other departmental files.

• Ability to access all court locations and the jail.

• May visit residences that are in various states of cleanliness.

• May conduct fieldwork at various times of day and night and in varying neighborhoods.

• Regular contacts with individuals with a variety of diseases that may be bloodborne or airborne.

• Contact with individuals in jail, on conditional release, or probation that may be prone to anger and violence or going through extreme emotional turmoil.

• Exposure to a variety of community locations that may pose health or safety risks.

• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, traverse, climb, balance, twist, bend, stoop/crouch, squat, kneel, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, grasp, handle, pinch, type, endure repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.

• This position’s physical requirements require continuous stamina in sitting, standing, climbing, typing and enduring repetitive movements of the wrists, hand or fingers.

• This position’s physical requirements require little to no stamina in all other physical requirements listed above.

• This position performs medium work requiring the ability to exert between 20-50 pounds of force in the physical requirements above.

• This position primarily requires close visual acuity to perform tasks within arm’s reach such as: viewing a computer screen, using measurement devices, inspecting and assembling parts, etc.

• This position requires the ability to communicate and respond to inquiries both in person and over the phone.

• This position requires the ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.

• This position requires the ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.