Juvenile Probation Officer I

McLennan County•Tx, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides efficient and effective casework services for children who are diverted or are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court of McLennan County. The officer supervises clients on probation, sets goals with them, and helps them achieve those goals through supervision and case management. The role involves contact with at-risk clients and people accused or adjudicated of misdemeanor and felony offenses, as well as visitors and the general public. Work is performed mostly indoors in a climate-controlled, 24-hour/7-day confined security facility. The regular schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; a flexible schedule may be required based on facility needs, and rotating on-call duty is assigned. New hires are subject to background checks, which may include criminal history, credit, motor vehicle, employment, and education records. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment; each case is considered individually.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a behavioral science or criminal justice.
Must be a certified juvenile probation officer or eligible for certification by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; must be certified when hired or able to obtain certification.
One year of experience in a social service agency. One year of graduate study in criminology, law, social work, psychology, or sociology may substitute for the required experience.
Current and valid Texas driver’s license and safe driving record.
Knowledge of the Texas Juvenile Justice Code.
Ability to work with hostile at-risk clients and their parents.
Ability to physically restrain residents exhibiting disruptive behavior safely in accordance with behavior management training.
Must pass a pre-employment physical and drug screen.
Regular attendance and timeliness are required.

Nice To Haves

Fluent Spanish-speaking ability with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Keep timely chronological documentation of cases.
Receive offense referrals and perform preliminary investigations.
Prepare social histories.
Disposition case records.
Maintain timely personal or personnel paperwork, including monthly reports, time sheets, and case tracking.
Comply with legal requirements to ensure juveniles receive the full benefits of due process.
Maintain contact with parents, attorneys, law enforcement, and community agencies.
Coordinate and participate in all aspects of court hearings.
Make appropriate referrals to other agencies.
Seek and secure alternative placement for juveniles.
Transport at-risk clients.
Supervise clients on probation, set goals with clients, and help them reach their goals through supervision case management.
Maintain regular attendance and punctuality.
Be dependable, contribute to team morale, build trust with fellow employees and the community, and be approachable and ready to assist employees and the public.