Juvenile Probation Officer - Drug Court

Harris County • Houston, TX

1d • $58,573 - $58,573 • Onsite

About The Position

The Specialty Court Juvenile Probation Officer works within the Health Services division of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD), which oversees medical, psychological, treatment, and specialty court programs. The officer provides intensive supervision and family support, collaborates with service providers, and reports information to support program-level supervision, treatment, and case plan goals. The role responds to inquiries from legal representatives and juvenile justice-involved entities and reports supervision outcomes to the unit supervisor or administration. This is a grant-funded, full-time position based in Harris County, with a typical schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Late nights and weekends may be required when necessary or scheduled.

Requirements

• Complete the HCJPD Standard Basic Spelling & Grammar assessment with a minimum score of 80%.
• Hold a bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and meet either of the following: complete one year of graduate study (18 post-graduate credit hours) in a listed or closely related field, or have at least 1,500 hours of paid or unpaid experience in a social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency dealing with offenders or disadvantaged persons. Experience hours must have been earned within a 12-month period, which need not consist of consecutive months.
• Possess a valid driver's license and have transportation available for work use, with vehicle liability insurance meeting statutory requirements.
• Possess working knowledge of departmental policies and procedures, Texas Juvenile Justice Department standards, adolescent development, the specialty court's focus area, community resources, Harris County data-processing and casework systems, and legal procedures related to juvenile delinquency.
• Have general knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Know pat-down, restraint, and transportation policies and procedures, and documentation required for placing youth in placement.
• Be able to obtain and maintain active Juvenile Probation Officer certification in accordance with Texas Juvenile Justice Department requirements.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Upon receiving a conditional offer, undergo a criminal background check and drug screening, and provide evidence of a tuberculosis skin test. If the test result is positive, additional documentation is required.
• Be subject to random drug and alcohol testing and testing based on reasonable suspicion during the course and scope of employment.
• Provide certified copies of educational transcripts and/or college credits during the hiring process.
• Be prepared to use crisis-intervention and de-escalation strategies when working with challenging youth.

Responsibilities

• Meet with and monitor youth and complete case-file management in a timely manner.
• Conduct field, school, detention, and placement visits and telephone contacts.
• Administer assessment tools and GPS monitoring.
• Prepare court reports, progress notes, and case plans; make referrals to community resources; and document and enter service and activity data.
• Follow applicable policies and standards and complete other case-related tasks as needed.
• Staff cases with service providers, legal representatives, supervisors, and other appropriate parties to discuss or triage the continuum of care for youth.
• Assist Specialty Court Juvenile Probation Officers, Health Services Supervisors, and the Program Manager or Administrator as needed.
• Assist with transporting youth and facilitating transfers or releases.
• Respond to inquiries from legal representatives and juvenile justice-involved entities and report supervision outcomes to the unit supervisor or administration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time