Salary: See Position DescriptionLocation : Mount Vernon, WAJob Type: Regular Full-TimeJob Number: 06603 & 06521 -1124Department: District CourtOpening Date: 11/25/2024SummaryInvestigate, supervise, intervene, and support supervised probation court ordered clients. Assist the District and Municipal Courts of Skagit County in holding offenders accountable to the terms of their court orders by organizing, coordinating, and managing a caseload of adjudicated offenders. This mission includes making sentence recommendations, performing offender needs/risk assessments, analyzing restitution claims, and facilitating compliance through motivational counseling, clinical consultation, and crisis intervention for public safety. Lack of sound judgment in the performance of these duties could result in major impact pertaining to legal situations, protection of the community, and the loss of freedom for individuals.Probation implements this by triaging offenders' immediate and/or chronic risk and needs; investigating and reporting compliance to, and/or with, judiciary, prosecutors, public defenders, private attorneys, law enforcement, mental health, chemical dependency, and domestic violence counselors; enhance compliance through direct client contacts; and recommendations of conditions of pre-sentence release and sentencing requirements.- Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3 ($34.02hr to $36.45/hr per hour) for a Probation Officer II, dependent upon qualifications.- Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3 ($36.45/hr to $39.08/hr per hour) for a Probation Officer III, dependent upon qualifications. - Progressive increases are based upon years of service with Skagit County, up to step 8 (top step is $43.30/hr. for Probation Officer II; $46.39/hr. for Probation Officer III). The Probation Officer II is Range 15 of the District Court, Courthouse & Parks Teamsters Union salary schedule. The Probation Officer III is Range 16 of the District Court, Courthouse & Parks Teamsters Union salary schedule.NOTE- This position is contingent upon grant funding. In the event grant funding is discontinued, this position may be reduced in hours or eliminated. Essential FunctionsEvaluates assigned cases, and determines an appropriate course of action.Evaluates social and legal information from offenders and collateral sources to determine actions that must be taken to satisfy the requirements of justice and deter offenders from future crime. This includes doing a criminal history search to determine public safety risk factors.Completes and implements Pre-Screens and Risk Assessments.Formulates self-improvement plans for defendants and communicates recommendations to court that establish a set of reasonable and enforceable sentence conditions. This involves attending court hearings one day per week and giving testimony when appropriate and/or requested by the judge.Conducts pre and post sentence investigations as ordered by the court, writing detailed reports that include summary defendant background data, diagnostic assessments and sentencing alternatives.Investigates and analyzes claims of victims, insurance companies, governmental agencies, commercial establishments and professional agents to determine restitution.Initiates the emergency detention of non-compliant dangerous clients to protect the community.Coordinates meetings with schools, parents, law enforcement, and various social service and legal agencies and contact with victims, Prosecutors, Public Defenders and private counsel.Resolves conflict and crisis situations while monitoring client behavior.Refers clients to treatment providers and consults with these providers on clinical problems to facilitate the compliance and self-improvement of clients.Coordinates evaluations and/or treatment for drug/alcohol, psychological, psychosexual, psychiatric, domestic violence, and other identified issues.Supports and motivates clients who are having difficulty with compliance by means of providing personal guidance in problem solving and decision-making.Performs other responsibilities as assigned which may include screening detention admits, miscellaneous phone calls and office inquiries.Maintains detailed documentation of all chronological case events, compliance information, clinical and legal background information, court communications, and correspondence with outside agencies.Administers breath tests to clients.Administers drug test screening tools to clients.Provide essential frontline services for those most at risk, due to the lack of and cost of jail space.May collect money from clients and maintain a trust account in conformity with the requirements of Washington State and Skagit County.Responds to general inquiries from the community, which may include public speaking. Uses public relation skills on community outreach programming. Interface with community outreach programs focused on crime prevention and rehabilitation.Expected to attend related training events, including one offsite training per year, as the budget allows.May assist in planning and organizing work, assigning and checking work or and/or assisting and instructing others.May participate in research to develop and recommend to the Director new policies, methods, procedures and programs.Teaches and trains programming designed to reduce recidivism and promote healthy justice involved individuals. Testifies in court as required.May create and administer a specialized program within the department.Daily prioritizing of critical risk management, i.e. is this person an immediate threat to self or others?Maintains performance standards on work systems, i.e. significant participation and final authority i.e. court reports, closing cases, requesting interpreters, etc.Supervisory:NoneOTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:May be tasked with performing related duties. Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the Position Description but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee's classification of work.Performs reception/clerical duties in the absence of support staff.Oversees office activities in the absence of the department head. Minimum Qualifications Probation Officer II
- Bachelor's Degree in social science, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
- Experience at working in high stress, high volume situations with a diverse and challenging population.
- Experience in using software applications in increase efficiency in casework management preferred.
- Bilingual fluency in Spanish/English is desired. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted which provides the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Probation Officer III
- Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice, or related field.
- Minimum of 3 years' experience in the position of Adult Probation Counselor II with Skagit County or equivalent experience in a similar position with another agency.
Requires knowledge of:
- The dynamics and treatment of chemical dependency, mental illness and criminal behavior; criminal law and due process, and the organization of the judicial system in Washington State.
- English grammar and composition; common office automated tools including word processing, spreadsheets, database, and communication software.
Requires the ability to:
- Conduct in-depth interviews by projecting a non-judgmental attitude, putting a person at ease, conveying ideas, and obtaining relevant factual information; effectively work with people with cultural, ethnic, and lifestyle backgrounds different from one's own; interpret and prepare legal documents.
- Effectively communicate orally and in writing; work independently under pressure with a large caseload of defendants, some of whom may be angry, mentally impaired, physically ill, dysfunctional, violent and of diminished mental capacity; work cooperatively with co-workers, supervisors, judges, court personnel, police officers, attorneys, prosecutors, and staff members from public and private agencies; work as a team member in a high stress environment.
- Willingness to enforce court requirements and to report violations, as well as serve as an agent of the court with complete confidentiality.
- Administer or assist in administering a community-based intervention program.
- Creativity, flexibility, and solid professional boundaries are essential.
- Work in an environment with potentially limited resources including jail overcrowding and reduced social services, increased caseloads, and seriousness of offenders (i.e., courts primarily sending probation the high-risk cases for closer supervision to reduce the County's liability).
- Deal with a lack of communication between agencies (Law Enforcement, Courts, and treatment agencies).
Licenses and/or Certifications:Valid Washington State driver's license required. Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Adult Services Academy is required within one year of hire. WORKING CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS: Work is performed primarily in an indoor office type environment. Occasional lifting of boxes up to 40 pounds. Risks association with repetitive small muscle movements using computer keyboards and sitting for long periods looking at a computer screen. Emotional stress may occur with the nature of this work. Hazards: Those present in a normal office environment with occasional exposure to hostile persons and stressful situations. Possible carpal tunnel syndrome due to extended periods of keystroking. Eyestrain due to extensive computer exposure. A physical hazard may occur from agitated clients awaiting trial, or during trials or hearings, as well as from the general public with threats either verbal, physical or with weapons and exposure to germs from dealing with the public and exchange of document and possible money handling.Skagit County offers a competitive benefits package for Full-Time employees, including:
- Health Insurance: A variety of plans to choose from, including the County's Standard Medical Plan, for which the employee only pays $70 a month for medical and the County pays 100% of the dental and vision premiums for employee and dependents depending on the plan selected. Spouses may be added to the plan for $130 per month.
- Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
- Retirement: All employees must participate in a Washington State Department of Retirement Services plan, and may participate in a Deferred Compensation Plan if desired.
- Group Life Insurance: Basic insurance and Long-Term Disability is provided to employee and dependents, with additional insurance available to purchase.
- Employee Assistance Program for employees and family members for help with personal or family problems.