Court Services Officer 2 (PTS)

New Jersey Courts•New Brunswick, NJ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Middlesex Vicinage is seeking a Court Services Officer 2 to join its Pretrial Services Program. The position primarily handles monitoring duties and requires strong interpersonal, organizational, and case management skills. The selected candidate will interact regularly with pretrial defendants, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, the county jail, local law enforcement, the private bar, and the public. Responsibilities include researching criminal case histories, conducting pretrial risk assessments, preparing reports, meeting with defendants, recommending conditions of pretrial release to judges, and staffing first appearance/Central Judicial Processing hearings and pretrial detention hearings. The officer will monitor release conditions, primarily for higher-risk defendants; help defendants meet goals that support court appearances and public safety; and report non-compliance to the court. The role also involves providing guidance to clients with social, emotional, or rehabilitative needs, making referrals for services, testing, treatment, or counseling, and monitoring treatment progress. The officer may assist supervisors with staff training and mentoring and participate in stakeholder and community outreach. The position requires a non-traditional work week, which may include weekends, holidays, and after-hours on-call responsibilities. Schedules may be Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday. Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function. The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to two remote-work days outside Judiciary buildings, subject to high-speed home internet access and installation of a multifactor authentication app on a phone or tablet.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years of professional experience in case management involving gathering and analyzing case-related information, including judgment and discretion, and one or more of the following: reviewing cases to identify case management and discovery needs, coordinating with judges and/or attorneys to resolve case issues, or preparing reports of findings and recommendations.
Applicants without the required education may substitute additional paraprofessional or professional experience on a year-for-year basis, with one year of such experience equal to 30 semester-hour credits.
An associate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of additional paraprofessional or professional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
A master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of experience.
Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is required.
Must be authorized to work in the United States under Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.
Newly hired employees must agree to a background check that includes fingerprinting.
Newly hired Judiciary employees must establish and maintain their principal residence in New Jersey within one year, subject to applicable exemptions.
A valid New Jersey driver’s license is required only if operating a vehicle is necessary to perform the position’s essential duties.

Nice To Haves

Experience with pretrial services programs.

Responsibilities

Research criminal case histories and conduct pretrial risk assessments.
Prepare reports, meet with defendants, and make recommendations to judges regarding conditions of pretrial release.
Staff first appearance/Central Judicial Processing hearings and pretrial detention hearings.
Monitor conditions of pretrial release, primarily for higher-risk defendants.
Help defendants meet goals intended to ensure their court appearances and protect public safety during pretrial release.
Report defendants’ non-compliance with release conditions to the court.
Guide clients with social, emotional, rehabilitative, and other specific needs.
Recommend or refer clients for social services, testing, treatment, or counseling and monitor their treatment progress.
Assist supervisors with training and mentoring Pretrial Services staff.
Assist with stakeholder and community outreach related to the Pretrial Services Program.
Work a non-traditional schedule that may include weekends, holidays, and after-hours on-call duties.
Perform other related duties as required.