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Misdemeanor Probation Officer

Ada County Sheriff's Office
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General Summary

 

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A Misdemeanor Probation Officer supervises a caseload of misdemeanor probationers and enforces compliance with court orders. Work includes facilitating risk and needs assessments and subsequently referring probationers to appropriate treatment providers and community-based resources. This position is granted a wide latitude of decision-making subject to Federal, State, and County laws and departmental guidelines and policy.  Provides court testimony and updates, to include sentencing recommendations.  Work involves communication with occasionally hostile or confrontational clients or family members.  Advanced de-escalation and effective listening skills are required. The principal duties of this position are performed in a work environment in which the employee is subject to potential personal danger.   This position is located in the Ada County Sheriff's Office, Court Services Bureau.

 

Distinguishing Features Of The Class:

Performs complex and varied work under general direction of the Misdemeanor Probation Supervisor and Manager.  Must obtain and maintain the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certification for probation officers.  Provides court-ordered supervision for adult probationers that have been convicted of a criminal offense(s). 

 

Benefits:
Low cost medical, dental, and vision insurances
Idaho PERSI retirement plan
Deferred Compensation plan 457(b) with a County match of up to 3%
Flexible Spending Accounts – Health and Dependent Care
Post-Employment Health Plan – 50% of unused sick leave above 240 hours
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
No cost basic life, accidental death, and short-term disability insurances
Eleven (11) paid holidays annually
Paid vacation leave, sick leave, and parental leave
No cost gym access at three (3) County owned gym facilities
Wellness Program
Optional 401(k) and/or Roth IRA

Visit adacounty.id.gov/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefits to view details regarding our full benefits package.

 

PAY SCHEDULE FOR MISDEMEANOR PROBATION OFFICERS

Level I - $24.25

 

Level II - $26.00

 

Level III - $27.50

 

Level IV - $29.25

 

All salary increases are based on POST Certification Level and years of experience in addition to required training outlined in job posting.

Level I = Entry, POST Basic

Level II = POST Basic and 1 year of experience

Level III = POST Intermediate and 3 years of experience

Level IV = POST Advanced and 5 Years of experience

 

Essential Functions

 

  • Manages misdemeanor caseloads of 80-200 individuals;
  • Meets with individuals sentenced to supervised probation on a regular basis and coordinates with stakeholders to monitor and assess compliance with court orders;
  • Conducts risk and needs assessments with probationers and develops and oversees case plans;
  • Conducts detailed investigations of client social history including physical environment, family and peer relationships, employment, finances, emotional history, etc.;
  • Conducts and directs legal searches of offenders’ person, automobile, residence and any personal property under their control;
  • Conducts field visits in uncontrolled environments requiring continual risk assessment, mitigation, and response to ensure safe conditions;
  • Prepares referrals for mental health, counseling, substance abuse, or other evaluations and treatments and monitors attendance and progress;
  • Interprets and evaluates psychological, psychiatric, psycho-sexual, domestic violence, and substance use disorder evaluations for decision-making and referrals;
  • Monitors and deciphers electronic monitoring results;
  • Reviews monthly or other periodic reports from treatment providers and takes appropriate disciplinary actions as necessary;
  • Holds offenders accountable for any violations by imposing sanctions and/or filing probation violations;
  • Orders and facilitates taking probationers into custody;
  • Monitors court dockets and calendars and runs record checks;
  • Writes court reports, affidavits, progress reports, and other court-related documents;
  • Appears in court and presents recommendations and/or testimony;
  • Performs, schedules, and interprets random drug or alcohol testing on individual probationers;
  • Documents and maintains records and case files of all contacts with probationers;
  • Establishes and maintains contacts with key individuals involved in the cases and case compliance, i.e., detectives, school resource officers, school officials, attorneys, judges, parents, spouses, coworkers, counselors, victims etc.;
  • Facilitates transfer of supervision to other jurisdictions including Interstate Compact;
  • Monitors cost of supervision, restitution and fine payment schedules and develops plans to ensure compliance;
  • Performs related duties as required.

 

Additional Functions: 

  • May require flexible working hours;
  • May be required to serve on-call to respond to after hour calls from law enforcement and other emergencies;
  • May be asked to represent Misdemeanor Probation on multi-disciplinary community committees;
  • Performs related functions as required.

 

Job Requirements

 

LEVEL I

  • Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or a related human service field or equivalent experience;
  • Must become POST certified as a Misdemeanor Probation Officer within one year of hire and maintain POST certified status;
  • Proficiency at Motivational Interviewing;
  • Knowledge of and experience with clinical programs/processes in a court setting;
  • Knowledge of modern probation services, practices and philosophy, accountability programs and evidence-based skill building programs;
  • Knowledge of special populations, including sex offenders, mental health, gangs, domestic violence, and individuals with cognitive impairments;
  • Knowledge of individual and group behavior;
  • Knowledge of the literature in the probation field;
  • Knowledge of the rules and laws pertaining to the Court system;
  • Knowledge of local community resources available to assist the offender, family, and others;
  • Knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation;
  • Skill in problem solving and crisis intervention;
  • Skill in the operation of a personal computer including thorough knowledge of MS Office Suite and databases specific to Ada County and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office;
  • Ability to qualify with a firearm and maintain minimum annual training hours;
  • Ability to qualify and maintain training on less lethal instruments such as taser, handcuffs, and Oleoresin Capsicum;
  • Ability and experience with minorities, refugees, and individuals that are unhoused;
  • Ability to type 40 WPM or above;
  • Ability to plan and organize work;
  • Ability to facilitate groups and maintain appropriate boundaries;
  • Ability to conduct a comprehensive investigation using interviews and other techniques;
  • Ability to analyze data and use sound professional judgment to reach appropriate conclusions and make decisions;
  • Ability to record data in a narrative fashion and document all conclusions and recommendations;
  • Ability to effectively work with offenders and other stakeholders;
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality;
  • Ability to communicate clearly in stressful situations which require quick responses;
  • Ability to complete work in a timely manner;
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

LEVEL 2

  • In addition to the requirements above;
  • 1 year of experience as a Probation Officer or equivalent;
  • POST certified as a Misdemeanor Probation Officer;
  • Skill in navigating courtroom settings;
  • Skill in field visit competencies.

LEVEL 3

  • In addition to the requirements above;
  • 3 years of experience as a Probation Officer or equivalent;
  • POST Intermediate Certification or equivalent;
  • ICOTS Competent;
  • Must have obtained 32 hours DV Training;
  • Must have obtained 16 hours of DV Group Observation.

LEVEL 4

  • In addition to the requirements above;
  • 5 years of experience as a Probation Officer or equivalent;
  • POST Advanced Certification or equivalent;
  • Must have obtained 16 hours of MH Training.

Other Requirements:

  • Incumbent must adhere to the Code of Ethics for Probation Officers;
  • Must possess and maintain a valid Idaho driver’s license;
  • Must appear before an oral board and pass a polygraph exam, background investigation, and medical exam prior to hire;
  • This position has been designated safety sensitive and therefore the incumbent is subject to random drug testing.

 

Work Environment & Physical Demands

  • The work is performed around offenders and involves an element of personal danger;
  • Work is performed both in an office and field environment;
  • The incumbent will be required to work flexible schedules, which may include work on some weekends, evenings, nights and/or holidays;
  • Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, to permit the employee to function in a general office environment;
  • Must be able to physically respond and intervene to emergency and hostile situations in the field and office - works daily with potentially volatile, intoxicated, or aggressive offenders;
  • Requires the ability to participate and pass defensive tactics as required by POST;
  • Ability to participate in ongoing defensive tactics training;
  • Must be able to perform defensive maneuvers, maintain balance, and react quickly to unpredictable movements;
  • Requires acute visual and auditory acuity for monitoring people, environments, and activities;
  • Requires the ability to observe and handle materials safely and carefully, including physically manipulating and inspecting objects;
  • Requires bending, reaching, and crouching to conduct searches in various environments;
  • Requires strength and endurance to prevent physical confrontations, using verbal and non-verbal cues to de-escalate tensions;
  • May be required to lift up to 20 lbs;
  • This position involves exposure to potentially hazardous materials, airborne pathogens, blood, blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids, and goods or substances that may be deemed harmful;
  • This position interacts with individuals dealing with sensitive and often challenging situations; incumbent must demonstrate strong emotional resilience and composure to ensure the safety and well-being of self and others;
  • The incumbent must operate a county vehicle and travel throughout the county.

 

DISCLAIMER:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the primary job responsibilities satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of individuals in the job. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. Ada County provides Veteran's Preference for all County jobs except for those deemed "key positions" in accordance with Title 65, Chapter 5 of Idaho Code.