Deputy Probation Officer I

Probation•Oakland, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This series specification describes the three Deputy Probation Officer classes in the Probation Department, which, under close supervision at the lower level and under direction at the higher levels, investigate and supervise adult or juvenile defendants or court wards; assist the courts in making detention and sentencing decisions; aid in the social rehabilitation of wards and defendants, including compliance with court orders; conduct fact finding investigations of pre-employment and employee misconduct cases; represent the Probation Department in court, institutions, foster homes, and community agencies; act as a substitute for a full-time Court Officer, and in Juvenile and Adult Divisions, covers additional court calendars as directed on a part-time basis; perform intensive casework counseling, and related work as required. Deputy Probation Officer I is the entry-level class. Incumbents work under close supervision, and may be assigned all duties, except those exclusively related to the Deputy Probation Officer III classification. Deputy Probation Officer I's are expected to promote to the Deputy Probation Officer II classification upon completion of the 18-month training period, and the STC Basic Probation Officer Training Course and satisfactory performance.

Requirements

Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Possess a valid California Class "C" Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
Good driving record according to DMV negligent operator guidelines and qualifications for automotive insurance.
Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
Applicants are not required to be a US citizen but must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
A thorough background investigation will be made of all prospective Deputy Probation Officers.
A record of any felony conviction will result in disqualification.
Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
Found free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of an armed Peace Officer, as determined by a licensed examining authority in accordance with the California Government Code.
Within the prescribed time limit after date of appointment, satisfactory completion of training for probation officers as specified by the California Board of Corrections, Peace Officer Standards and Training PC 832 and any other training required under law.
Willingness to perform work requiring irregular hours, holidays and weekends.
Must be willing to work all positions, locations and shifts.
Applicants must satisfactorily pass a thorough medical examination for Peace Officers and a psychological evaluation before job placement can take place.
Knowledge of usual causes of crime and delinquency.
Knowledge of elementary psychodynamics of behavior and modes of adjustment.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques and effective application of interviewing.
Knowledge of intermediate and basic math, plus fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Knowledge of principles of supervision.
Knowledge of applicable State, Federal and local statutes, ordinances, rules, policies, standard codes, and their interrelationship.
Knowledge of training and learning theory techniques, including recreational activity.
Knowledge of principles, methods, procedures and facilities used in modern progressive correctional programs, including methods of social casework.
Knowledge of cultural relativity and cultural differences.
Knowledge of understanding of minority group cultures.
Knowledge of concepts and effective techniques in facilitating socio-cultural relationships.
Knowledge of social economic and psychological factors, forces and trends relating to crime, delinquency, and social adjustment.
Knowledge of social and correctional case and group work.
Knowledge of developmental theory and social theory relating to rehabilitation.
Knowledge of counseling and guidance principles and principles of normal and abnormal psychology and personality theory.
Knowledge of theory, principles and trends of probation work.
Knowledge of principles and findings of normal and abnormal psychology.
Knowledge of principles, techniques and trends in social and correctional case and group work.
Knowledge of general provisions of the law relating to the legal rights and obligations of adults and juveniles.
Knowledge of causes, extent of crime and delinquency.
Knowledge of techniques and methods of investigating and supervising adult and juvenile offenders.
Knowledge of service of public and private agencies available to probationers.
Knowledge of organization and procedures of the Alameda County Probation Department.
Knowledge of operation of Municipal and Superior Courts.
Knowledge of automated systems and its applications.
Knowledge of information systems and personal computers.
Ability to verbally communicate, sufficient to communicate with a variety of people in various ethnic, educational and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ability to effectively apply interviewing skills, including listening skills.
Ability to speak publicly including planning and preparation of material and effective presentation, principles of group work and group dynamics.
Ability to proofread for grammar, punctuation, spelling and typographical errors.
Ability to define problems, collect information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to formulate recommendations and solve a wide variety of intellectual and practical problems.
Ability to write clearly, accurately and concisely, using grammatically correct English to convey ideas in written reports, letters, memoranda, etc.
Ability to read and interpret complex technical and legal documents in English, such as codes, psychological and medical documents, manuals, etc.
Ability to organize and manage a caseload.
Ability to be flexible and tolerant in adjusting to changes in workload assignments and work under the stress of meeting deadlines.
Ability to demonstrate interpersonal techniques relating to establishing rapport, tactfulness, controlling stress, gaining confidence and dealing with emotional stress.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to be willing to accept and follow direction.
Ability to understand one's self and have self-control in relation to self and others (self-awareness).
Ability to establish and maintain good objective working relationships with clients to determine needs in individual situations and take an effective course of action.
Ability to analyze complex emotional and behavioral disorders and carry out treatment plans.
Ability to exercise skilled judgment in the assessment and treatment of probationers, families, and dependent children.
Ability to establish effective and productive relationships with others.
Ability to access multiple information systems in order to research pertinent data.
Ability to function in an automated work environment.
Ability to effectively utilize self defense techniques.
Ability to effectively utilize a firearm.

Nice To Haves

Valid t-scores from other jurisdictions for the BSCC written examination.
Acceptable pass point of the BSCC written examination is 52.00.
Valid t-scores must be on the agency's letterhead and reflect the date of the test.
Scores are valid for 12 months from the test date.
Valid t-scores must be submitted to the recruitment analyst, Tracy Gonzalez at [email protected].

Responsibilities

Investigate and supervise adult or juvenile defendants or court wards.
Assist the courts in making detention and sentencing decisions.
Aid in the social rehabilitation of wards and defendants, including compliance with court orders.
Conduct fact finding investigations of pre-employment and employee misconduct cases.
Represent the Probation Department in court, institutions, foster homes, and community agencies.
Act as a substitute for a full-time Court Officer, and in Juvenile and Adult Divisions, covers additional court calendars as directed on a part-time basis.
Perform intensive casework counseling, and related work as required.
Restrain an individual for the purpose of arrest and/or detention and conduct related searches.
Apply restraint devices such as handcuffs.
Administer first aid and CPR.

Benefits

Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
Vision or Vision Reimbursement
Share the Savings
Basic Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
County Allowance Credit
Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
Employee Assistance Program
Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
12 paid holidays
Floating Holidays
Vacation and sick leave accrual
Vacation purchase program
Management Paid Leave
Catastrophic Sick Leave
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits Program
Guaranteed Ride Home
Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
Child Care Resources
1st United Services Credit Union