Lab Tech/Probation Officer

City of Columbus Careers•Columbus, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Franklin County Municipal Court is seeking a Lab Tech/Probation Officer to join its Pretrial and Probation Services Department. This department, comprising approximately 120 employees, is dedicated to promoting community safety and pretrial success through research-informed recommendations and supervision services. The mission focuses on maximizing court appearance, removing barriers to justice, and promoting harm reduction. Probation Services aims to reduce recidivism, change offender behavior, and foster accountability using evidence-based practices. The department includes pretrial, investigations, and supervision services divisions, with supervision structures determined by risk and need. Probation staff manage specialized caseloads such as domestic violence, sexual offenses, soliciting, mental health, work release, and electronic monitoring, striving to remain an evidence-based organization.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with core coursework in areas related to criminal justice, criminology, corrections, psychology, social work, or a related field.
The ability to demonstrate and apply basic knowledge of mental health, trauma, and substance abuse issues.
Become trained and certified to perform the ORAS and other department risk and need-assessment tools.
Successful completion of the state probation officer certification and training process within one year of hire if not currently certified
Meet required eligibility and pass tests required to become certified to use Law Enforcement Automated Data Systems, National Crime Information Center, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Interstate Identification Information Systems computer information systems.
Willingness and ability to be trained and maintain certification in the Department's field-safety training program, including but not limited to defensive tactics, verbal de-escalation techniques, and first aid/CPR, to engage with defendants in the community.
Ability to assess and supervise defendants effectively (e.g., assess and resolve problems, motivate defendants toward prosocial supports and activities, and facilitate interventions that assist defendants in changing their thinking and behavior)
Ability to appropriately respond to both prosocial and non-compliant behavior in a way that promotes public safety, accountability, and behavior change.
Effective oral and written communication and interviewing skills (e.g., ability to listen effectively, obtain sensitive information, explain complex issues in a comprehensible manner, prepare accurate and logical reports relevant to a defendant)
Ability to make informed and thoughtful recommendations and decisions.
Knowledge of the criminal justice system and current research trends in the field of community corrections to work within the Court and community corrections field effectively.
Ability to appropriately receive and follow supervisory feedback, coaching, and direction.
Demonstrate resilience and flexibility in a high-paced, dynamic work environment.
Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
Proficiency in operating a personal computer and using, or being able to learn, Microsoft Office products such as Word, Outlook, and Excel, and the Court's case-management software.
Pleasant personality, ability to deal with potentially difficult people, ability to interact and maintain effective working relationships with judges, employees, attorneys, litigants, law-enforcement officers, and others conducting business with the Court.
Conscious of and sensitive to the diversity within the Court's jurisdiction, and able to interact professionally with this diverse population of people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds regularly.
Excellent time-management skills, ability to prioritize work, ability to work independently, and ability to work under time constraints.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Professional appearance and demeanor, particularly a positive attitude appropriate for the position and the work environment, as a representative of the Court
Demonstrated dependability, punctuality, and an excellent attendance record.
Ability to work collaboratively with criminal justice partners.
Skilled in the art of interviewing and assessment
Willingness to become familiar with the Court's community resources.
Maintain a valid Ohio driver's license.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in the courts, corrections, behavioral health, law enforcement, or related fields
Experience as a laboratory technician collecting urine specimens.
Successful completion of the state's probation officer certification standard
Additional consideration will be given to individuals who are fluently bilingual in Spanish and English with a college-level vocabulary in both languages, the ability to communicate complex information in both English and Spanish, and who speak a language commonly used by people of Somalia for whom English is a second language, or who are proficient in American Sign Language.

Responsibilities

Promote, model, and abide by the Vision, Mission, policies, and procedures of the Probation Department.
Meet with defendants to explain the drug testing call-in system, collect urine specimens for processing, and operate the drug testing analyzer in accordance with the drug testing procedures.
Operate and maintain the drug testing laboratory and testing hours, including some evenings and weekends.
Perform testing of running controls and calibrations on the drug testing analyzer daily and follow all specimen collection protocols.
Maintain accurate records and data input in the drug testing case management system.
Maintain HIPAA compliance protocols on all samples collected throughout the day.
Maintain and replenish all supplies daily, and uphold cleaning protocols for the equipment and the laboratory.
Follow established protocols for specimen collection and chain of custody.
Testify in Court as requested and needed.
Administration of the Ohio Risk Assessment System and other identified assessment tools to ensure appropriate supervision placement, intervention, and programming.
Supervise and support defendants through the behavior-change process, skills, and goal attainment, and compliance with court-ordered conditions of supervision, which include teaching new skills, role-playing with defendants, and applying motivational interviewing skills.
Conduct investigations for the Court and prepare written reports to assist judges in determining appropriate sentences, release conditions, or the sealing of criminal offense records, as assigned.
Complete thorough, well-written reports that detail an individual's progress under supervision, which include thoughtful and informed recommendations.
Supervise specialized caseloads consisting of environmental compliance issues; defendants convicted of domestic violence or related charges; substance-using defendants; defendants with mental-health or developmental disability considerations; defendants convicted of sex offenses; defendants ordered to a period of electronic monitoring or work release; or ordered to complete a specialized docket program.
Maintain accurate, current, and thorough documentation and records.
Participate in activities that enhance the Department, the Court, the individual units within the Department, and the officers' professional development.
Active participation in required training and professional development events around evidence-based practices in community corrections and behavioral health issues, per department standards, and as deemed appropriate.
Perform other tasks as assigned and may fulfill roles of other positions in other departments of the Court as needed.
Monitor and/or collect urine specimens from defendants.

Benefits

medical, prescription, vision, dental, and life insurance
short-term disability
generous vacation, sick, and personal leave
11 paid holidays
longevity service payments
sick-leave reciprocity
employee assistance and deferred-compensation programs
tuition reimbursement
credit-union membership
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits