Probation Counselor I

Fairfax County • Fairfax (Fj16), VA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Court Services Division's Pretrial Services Unit of the General District Court. The Probation Counselor I interviews recently incarcerated defendants to determine their eligibility for participation in the court's supervised release program. This involves conducting interviews in the jail using specific assessment tools, collecting data from arresting documents, gathering information from personal interviews with defendants, and verifying this information with external sources such as family, friends, and employers. The collected data is documented using the PTCC computer program, and criminal histories are obtained through various computer systems including the Fairfax County local record system, NCIC/VCIN, and DMV. The role requires reviewing all data to assess a defendant's risk of danger to the community and their risk of fleeing or failing to appear in court. The Probation Counselor I then presents bond recommendations to magistrates or the judiciary, which can include various types of bonds or release conditions.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in social/behavioral sciences, law enforcement, or education.
• VCIN Certification (Required within 6 months)
• Must complete a criminal background check.
• Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Must be able to communicate with others.
• Ability to perform all duties with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

• Good working knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Experience working in a court/jail setting or agency closely connected with a General District Court.
• Basic knowledge of the Code of Virginia, especially in adult community corrections.
• Basic competency in the PSLP (Pretrial Services and Local Probation) system.
• Experience making release recommendations to magistrates for defendants eligible for Supervised Release.
• Experience in the use of Microsoft Office computer software, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Bilingual in English and another language.

Responsibilities

• Interviews recently incarcerated defendants to determine eligibility for the court's supervised release program.
• Conducts interviews in the jail using the PTCC Pretrial Defendant Questionnaire (PDQ), the Virginia Court Appointed Counsel Sheet, and the Virginia Pretrial Risk Assessment Instrument (VPRAI).
• Collects data from arresting documents.
• Gathers information from personal interviews with defendants.
• Verifies information with family, friends, employers, and co-workers.
• Documents information using the PTCC computer program.
• Obtains defendants' criminal histories using the Fairfax County local record system, NCIC/VCIN, and DMV criminal history computer systems.
• Reviews data to assess a defendant's risk of danger to the community and risk of fleeing or failing to appear in court.
• Presents bond recommendations to magistrates or the judiciary.

What This Job Offers

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