JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER

Benton County • Bentonville, AR

1d • $21 - $29 • Hybrid

About The Position

The job summary of the Juvenile Court and Probation Office as charged according to Statute 9-27-302 is as follows: To assure that juveniles brought to the attention of the courts receive the guidance, care, and control, preferably in each juvenile's own home, which will best serve the emotional, mental, and physical welfare of the juvenile and the best interest of the state. To protect society more effectively by substituting for retributive punishment, whenever possible, methods of offender rehabilitation and rehabilitative restitution, recognizing that the application of sanctions which are consistent with the seriousness of the offense is appropriate in all cases. Juvenile Officers must have the ability to utilize their training, knowledge, and judgement to analyze situations and make major subjective, critical decisions related to the needs of the juvenile and family with minimum supervision. The end result of the rehabilitative process is to provide services and monitor compliance to prevent juveniles from re-offending, and enable them to become productive members of society.

Requirements

• Must be professional, have initiative, exceptional time management, organizational skills, problem solving and decision making skills; excellent written and verbal skills: ability to work well with other individuals and agencies; and be able to work with minimum supervision to successfully complete his/her duties.
• Officers deal with professional people and agencies on a daily basis, involving furnishing and obtaining information and coordination of work. Contacts with county offices and officials, with other agencies including schools, Department of Human Services, Detention Centers, Medical Treatment Centers, Attorneys, Counselors, Law Enforcement agencies (local and out-of-state) parents and guardians of juveniles, Interstate Compact, Division of Youth Services and other Probation Offices (local and out-of-state).
• Must have "people skills" and maintain flexibility both at work and home since they are on twenty-four hour call.
• Must maintain a professional demeanor at all times and have the ability to de-escalate intense situations.
• The juvenile officers are the first responders to meet the needs of the juveniles. It is their responsibility to be informed of services available to children, determine what services meet the child's needs, determine if the case is brought before the court, make written recommendations and follow through with the court's orders and seek alternatives when necessary.
• Must have the ability to perform multiple tasks and work independently to ensure that both crisis situations and daily matters are handled accurately and efficiently.
• Must maintain a current valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Bi-lingual is an asset due to the increase of Hispanic families in the judicial system.

Responsibilities

• Must be on twenty-four hour call, seven days a week. Officers receive calls on the weekends and during the night. Officers must response to situations immediately, independently, and subjectively determine the proper course of action, which often includes out-of- home placement of the juvenile.
• Ability to interpret and abide by the Juvenile Code and other state and federal laws relating to juveniles. Officers must comply with the timeframes as set out by the code and are responsible for filing of petition, setting court dates, notification of parties, and recommendations that provide rehabilitation of the juvenile to the court pursuant to the Juvenile Code. Maintain confidentiality pursuant to AR Code Annotated 9-27¬309.
• Determine need, seek and secure appropriate out-of-home placements such as psychiatric facilities, sexual offender facilities, drug/alcohol facilities, bootcamps, short-term and long-term residential care, juvenile detention, serious offender programs or another custodian.
• Supervise a caseload ranging from 70 to 80 juveniles. The officer must be able to distinguish the needs of each juvenile and family to insure the proper services are being provided with minimum supervision.
• Supervision of juveniles consists of routine meetings with juveniles and parents, school officials and other agencies. Maintain working knowledge of residence, activities and employment of juveniles; supervise school attendance and grades; set up and monitor community service. Analyze, set up and monitor services to be provided by other agencies such as counseling or out of home placements; monitor payment of court costs, attorney fees, supervision fees, restitution, representation and community service fees. Issue arrest warrant or contempt for non-compliance and coordinate detention with Juvenile Detention Center. Coordinate shelter care during crisis-intervention. Refer violation of probation/supervision to Prosecuting Attorney. Provide court reports and recommend disposition to Prosecuting Attorney and Court.
• Physical attachment of Home Monitor Units. Twenty-four hour supervision to juveniles under house arrest, as a substitute to detention.
• Conduct home studies to determine appropriateness of home conditions. Visit juvenile and families in the home.
• Take urine samples and analyze drug screens on juveniles and parents of juveniles. If needed follow-up with appropriation placement or service.
• Transport juveniles for various purposes such as psychological evaluations, detention, etc.
• Make recommendations to court and notify the Department of Finance and Administration when a juvenile's driver's license may be revoked.
• Officers must maintain individual manual and computer case-files on each juvenile with written documentation of all activity related to said juvenile.
• Officers are required to provide testimony in an accurate and comprehensive manner of the juvenile's actions. Provide written recommendations to the court that may influence many lives to the extent of out of home placement of the juvenile. Document court proceedings for preparation of court orders. Ensure Court Orders are accurate before submission for Judge's signature.
• Request hearings and ensure notification to attorneys and other parties of upcoming court hearings.
• Attend staff meetings, and staffing of juveniles with other officers and agencies and schools.
• Ability to attend training and teach classes to juveniles. Attend programs or classes offered by other agencies to juveniles involved in the court system.
• Perform clerical duties that include word processing, data entry, photocopying, and filing, prepare and send mailings/correspondence, and FAX documents.
• Officers are responsible for monitoring the payment of court costs, supervision fees, fines, restitution, and representation and community service fees. Officers are also responsible for documentation of money spent when out-of-town for various functions. Proper handling of county equipment including home monitoring units, county vehicles, computers, fax machines, copier, and telephone equipment.

Benefits

• County Paid Insurance Benefits: Employee Medical, Basic life and ADD Insurance, Long‑term disability insurance
• Access to voluntary benefits, including: Medical (Spouse/Children), Dental, and Vision coverage, Supplemental life insurance, Short‑term disability, Critical Illness coverage, Accident insurance, Hospital indemnity plans
• Retirement & Financial Security: Participation in the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) pension program, Voluntary Nationwide Deferred Compensation 457(b) Retirement plan
• Time Off & Work–Life Balance: 11 Paid Holidays annually, Paid Sick Leave (up to 12 working days per year), Paid Vacation Leave (up to 10 working days per year), Paid Personal Day annually

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level