Office Specialist II

Yakima County•Yakima County Courthouse, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Yakima County Government's mission is to provide accessible, responsive, and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs. This Office Specialist II position is with Yakima County Pre-Trial Services. The role involves performing various office administration functions, including providing statistical reports to the Pretrial Services Manager, Superior Court Director, and Presiding Judge. It also includes performing administrative duties for the department such as greeting and checking in clients (in English and Spanish), and preparing court documents. The position coordinates with agencies to connect Pretrial clients with services for shelter, food, and other basic needs. Additionally, this position will serve as a backup Pretrial Officer, performing risk assessments, completing intakes, conducting appointments (phone and in-person), managing caseload tasks, and filing violation reports.

Requirements

Associate Degree or two-year technical certificate in Legal Assistant or Criminal Justice AND two (2) years of previous office /clerical experience or customer service experience; OR an equivalent combination of experience or training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Successful completion of a criminal background investigation and general employment verification.
Knowledge of Computers and word processing software
Knowledge of Grammar, spelling and punctuation
Knowledge of Customer service techniques
Knowledge of Office practices and procedures
Knowledge of Data processing systems and methods for input
Knowledge of Modern office procedures and customer service techniques
Knowledge of Legal terminology and court rules
Knowledge of The legal system, in particular the role and function of the Courts
Ability to multitask in a high pressure environment.
Ability to organize, prioritize and manage time.
Ability to use office equipment and computer equipment and software.
Ability to make responsible decisions in accordance with office policies and state statutes.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and the general public.
Ability to work effectively with constant interruptions.
Ability to communicate and express ideas effectively, orally and in writing.
Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and the general public.
Ability to communicate complex and/or sensitive information.
Employee will be required to successfully complete ACCESS 1 & 2 Security Test through the Washington State Patrol within 3 months of starting employment (or as WSP scheduling allows).

Nice To Haves

Work experience or knowledge of the legal system specifically, the courts.
Knowledge and experience with Zoom
Bilingual in English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Responds to telephone, mail, and in person inquiries from clients.
Greets clients as they arrive and notifies Pretrial Officer of their arrival.
Does a warrant check on every client checking in.
Provides information to Pretrial Services clients about resources for shelter, food, and places to receive assistance with mental health needs and/or substance use treatment.
Completes appointments over the phone (and occasionally in person) with Pretrial clients.
Reviews client files for accuracy and corrects any erroneous information in the system.
Notifies clients of changes to their pretrial monitoring (reduction in monitoring, etc.).
Checks Arraignment calendar daily to see if client is already on Awaiting Bail caseload.
Completes criminal history checks for Pretrial clients.
Reviews Preliminary Appearance docket daily to determine who was released to Pretrial.
Processes Scheduling Orders, Summons and Warrant paperwork as directed by the Judge.
Prepares summons and warrant packets based on judicial decision.
Decides what day to set court appearance for violation hearing.
Completes scheduling orders based on judicial decision.
Serves as a back-up Pretrial Officer as staff shortages occur.
Administers a criminal history investigation/assessment based on information gathered from defendant arrests/convictions, current charges, and age at arrest.
Reviews all criminal, legal and related reports to determine if there is additional information to provide to the court; sets up the criteria and behavioral expectations for successful completion of court directed pretrial requirements with defendants, identifies potential impediments to success while on pretrial and if appropriate makes referrals to assist defendant.
Performs intake appointments over the phone for Spanish speaking (and occasionally English speaking) clients who are released to Pretrial Level B or Level C.
Explains conditions of release, conditions of no contact orders, future court dates, how to contact attorney, and any reporting requirements to the defendant.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
Retirement Benefits
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA- VEBA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Voluntary Benefits – vision, term life, critical illness, disability and other insurance plans
Washington State Retirement Plan (DRS)
457 Deferred Compensation Program (DCP)