Juvenile Court Officer

Ottawa County•West Olive, MI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Probation Manager, this role investigates the background of delinquent youth to assist the Court in determining the optimum disposition or placement of each juvenile. The officer assesses, monitors, and supervises youth referred to the Court and assists family members of assigned juveniles in modifying the juvenile's behavior. This position develops and coordinates goals, interventions, and strategies, and evaluates progress. The officer conducts risk/needs assessments to determine criminogenic factors and proper placement within the Court's continuum of services. Responsibilities include preparing court reports, inputting data, and making referrals to agencies for evaluation or treatment. The role also involves providing surveillance within the community to monitor curfew and/or possession of contraband and performing drug testing as needed. This is a full-time, benefited position working out of the Fillmore Campus.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, criminal justice or related area
Two (2) years' experience in casework and/or supervision of juveniles under court jurisdiction.
Must complete the Michigan Judicial Institute Certification Training for Juvenile Court Staff within two years from the date of employment.
Valid State of Michigan Driver's License.
Must maintain freedom from tuberculosis, as certified by appropriate medical testing.
Must possess sufficient visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, to visually monitor clients in surveillance check site visits and to read results of drug and alcohol tests.
Must possess sufficient auditory acuity, with or without audiological appliances, to monitor clients in all settings.
Must possess sufficient strength and mobility to subdue and restrain clients if and when necessary.
Employees in this classification must be able and available to work flexible hours, evening and weekends, in order to conduct home, school and worksite visits at random hours to monitor clients in the community.
Employees in this classification must be able to provide their own transportation to and from site visits with clients.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree and/or two (2) or more years of experience in supervising juveniles strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts predisposition investigations, including administration of risk assessment instrument for assigned delinquency cases, reviewing documentation and conducting interviews to establish school, work, social and criminal histories of juvenile offenders.
Develops and implements individual case plans for assigned youths designed to meet short and long-term rehabilitative goals; modifies the plan as appropriate.
May investigate and provide recommendations to the Court on minor guardianships and adoption home studies.
Prepares appropriate court reports to articulate the risk and needs of the juvenile and family, assisting the court in determining the most appropriate disposition of each case.
Attends court hearings of assigned juveniles and responds to questions of the judge or referee.
Recommends dispositional alternatives to the court, including probationary terms, treatment programs, restitution, victims' rights action, removal from the home or other actions.
Assumes responsibility for ensuring the disposition of the case is carried out and court orders are enforced.
Supervises and responds to juveniles placed on probation or on informal supervision.
Visits youth in the community (home, school, work, etc.) and at the court and counsels them on a variety of emotional, psychological and behavioral problems.
Monitors and evaluates the juvenile's progress and responds to violations.
Works a flexible and non-traditional schedule (including evenings and weekends) and collaborates with the others, including the detention center, in monitoring the juvenile's behavior and compliance with court orders.
Coordinates role of appropriate community agencies including substance and mental health treatment centers, residential programs, community service work, educational programs, psychological, sexual, and substance abuse evaluations, job placement and training, and various other agencies.
Coordinates the design and implementation of services to assigned youths with such agencies.
Explains court process, orders, and requirements, such as sex offender registration, driver's license sanctions and juvenile record to juveniles and parents.
Provides ongoing therapeutic and evidence based interventions of assigned juveniles through family, individual, and group therapy and crisis resolution, providing advice on how to improve the family situation and resolve conflicts to delinquent juveniles and their families.
Evaluates the juvenile's needs and safety risk to the community and recommends placement decisions.
Considers alternative care and custody options including parent or guardian home, detention, foster placement, psychiatric or substance abuse treatment facility or any other appropriate placement.
Enters case notes, risk assessment, contact and drug testing information; updates demographic information; prepares court orders, develops case plans, enrolls the juvenile in programs or classes, and sends alerts to others involved with the juvenile in the Court's case management system.
Maintains files on assigned cases to include all legal documentation, correspondence, evaluations, and other documentation related to the case.
Helps support an equitable, safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.
Other duties as assigned.