Juvenile Probation Officer

Allegan County • Allegan, MI

2d • $31

About The Position

Allegan County has much to offer, with 24 Townships, 9 Cities, and 2 Villages across nearly 900 square miles. The landscapes range from the lakeshore to beautifully wooded lands, our County’s natural resources are a gift to be treasured. Allegan County businesses, citizens, and employees are world-class, and we remain a welcoming, closely-knit community. We are one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan. Allegan County Government places high importance on our core values: Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Honesty. A common thread among our leadership, employees and volunteers is a strong desire to serve and be part of something meaningful. We have been recognized by Gallagher as “Best in Class Winner” among mid-size companies for our excellence in optimizing employee and organizational well-being for three years in a row (2023-2025). We have also received the “Impact Award” from M.E.R.S. for excellence in educating our employees about their retirement plans and overall financial wellness. We are looking for dedicated, caring, energetic people to join our team! Job Summary : Acts as an arm of the Judiciary by performing the following duties: Conducts comprehensive delinquency investigations on assigned juveniles and reports findings and makes recommendations to the Court. Supervises a caseload of juvenile probationers specifically adjudicated for truancy or school-related offenses within the parameters of the Court’s Community Probation Program and In-Home Care Guidelines, utilizing the principles of balanced and restorative justice. Maintains required documentation, reports, and contact information for all assigned cases. PLEASE NOTE: This position will start around the beginning of April 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in social sciences or related human services field
• One year of casework experience in a court or other closely related setting
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License
• Completion of Michigan Judicial Institute Certification for Family Court staff within two years of hire date

Responsibilities

• Conducts a comprehensive delinquency investigation which shall include youth, family, school, employment and delinquent background, services received and risk assessments. Sources include interviews with youth and families, law enforcement, victims, school personnel, service providers and written records.
• Makes recommendations to the Court at initial dispositional hearing and subsequent hearings.
• Develops a case plan with goals and objectives and reviews the plan with client and parents regularly.
• Coordinates services to clients with schools, counseling agencies and other service providers.
• Fulfills all requirements set forth by the State of Michigan for in-home care program compliance including documentation, contacts with client, families and service providers, and written case updates.
• Maintain community involvement by working closely with law enforcement, attending community and school events, forming partnerships with community and neighborhood groups, and working some non-traditional hours.
• Responds to crisis and emergency situations and intervenes as necessary in aiding youth and families to resolve issues regarding school, employment, family relationships, etc.
• Monitors compliance with the terms of probation and orders of the court.
• Arranges for probation violation and/or review hearings as necessary, initiates show cause notices and bench warrant process, and appears in court to testify as required.
• Participates in and regularly attends all court hearings scheduled in individual cases, including any truancy-specific programming as developed by the Court.
• Consults with foster parents, court staff, treatment program staff and others involved in providing services to youth. Monitors progress to discuss case status, case plan modifications and other related issues involving assigned youth.
• Initiates show case and bench warrant process for violations of probation terms and conditions and appears in court to testify regarding such violations.
• Attends staff trainings, meetings and youth-related functions in the community. May participate in planning and organizing functions for youth.
• Monitors compliance in payments owed to the court on all open, assigned delinquency cases.
• Participates in multi-agency collaborative efforts as directed, particularly those done with schools and other educational programs.

Benefits

• Health benefits begin on the first of the month after your hire date - Medical, Dental & Vision (3 medical plans to choose from, 2 of which have a $0 premium)
• County-funded Health Savings Account with our two high-deductible medical plans
• County-paid employee life insurance coverage
• County-paid short-term disability coverage, up to 52 weeks
• Generous retirement plan, including a county contribution of 7% of your annual earnings
• Tuition Reimbursement Program for college degree courses
• Generous PTO plan, including front-loaded hours into PTO bank at hire, and annually on January 1.
• 13 paid holidays, in addition to PTO
• FREE use of Allegan County government's two fitness centers

What This Job Offers

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