Probation Officer Specialist

County of Chester•Justice Center - West Chester, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Adult Probation Officer Specialist is an experienced caseworker who will be assigned to supervise individuals who have been placed on probation and or parole supervision and determined by the court to be in need of intensive supervision or a risk assessment tool determined the individual to be high risk or high need of re-offense. A Probation Officer Specialist encourages long term positive change, enforces compliance with court ordered conditions and helps reduce the risk of recidivism. This position also involves court testimony and the completion of Court reports which include fair and balanced recommendations regarding the individual’s needs and protection of the community. Additionally, this position requires an individual to possess excellent proficiency in the use of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Risk Assessment, and Trauma Informed Responses. Although law and procedures regulate the work, the employee is required in emergencies to make decisions directly affecting public safety and personal liberties of individuals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Two years of social services or criminal justice experience.
Knowledge of criminal justice terminology and court procedures.
Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and prioritize.
Strong knowledge of the procedures which govern the Court of Common Pleas
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to multi-task and carry tasks to completion.
Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of investigations, supervision and reporting in probation work.
Strong writing, interviewing, and investigating skills.
Strong professional ethics.
Specialized training specific to the job duties.
Must pass a background check.
A valid driver’s license and use of a personal vehicle is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice or related field.
Minimum of two years of experience as a Probation & Parole Officer.
Familiarity with the laws and procedures concerning probation/parole supervision (i.e., search and seizures, violations, confidentiality etc.).
Bilingual ability required for the bilingual specialist position.
Excellent organization and time management skills.
Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
Knowledge of illegal and prescription drugs, and the effects, and length of time spent in someone’s system.
Knowledge of individual and group behavior, with special emphasis on psychology.
General knowledge of the rules and regulations of probation/parole.
Strong professional ethics
Knowledge of evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, and risk assessment.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems and to make firm and unbiased decisions.
Accurate and detail oriented.
Demonstrates integrity and honesty.
General working knowledge of County of Chester policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing supervision by maintaining regular contact with high risk/ high need justice involved individuals, monitoring compliance with rules and regulations of probation & parole, along with any special conditions imposed by the court.
Officers work to ensure community safety, identify violations, and take appropriate action.
Maintain professional and timely contact with family members, victims, members of law enforcement, the court, community, and treatment providers.
Gather information through interviews with clients, victims, court, law enforcement, treatment providers and other parties as necessary.
Demonstrate proficiency in the use evidence-based practices such as risk/needs assessments, case plan, motivational interviewing and skill building with fidelity.
Demonstrate the ability to testify in court without oversight.
Utilize the risk/needs results to make appropriate referrals to treatment agencies to address the individual’s needs and continuously monitor the individual’s participation and progress in these programs to ensure compliance and appropriate outcomes.
Enforce confidentiality of protected information.
Ensure that all information pertaining to the case is well documented, thorough, and accurate.
Ability to use trauma informed and trauma responsive in supervision strategies.
Complete and submit Court reports with an emphasis on accuracy, timeliness, professionalism, appropriate use of grammar and proper formatting.
Actively promotes teamwork among units and the whole department.
Attend and participate in local and regional meetings, seminars, trainings, and conferences to maintain the highest level of education in the field of probation and parole services, including knowledge about current Probation/Parole research.
Support and monitor the collection of fines, costs, and restitution.
Perform urinalysis and breathalyzer testing, as needed.
Provide professional court testimony and demonstrate the ability to make fair recommendations for sentencing with minimum supervisory oversight.
Ability to successfully complete defensive tactics training
Ability to obtain certification to complete C.R.N. evaluations.
Perform duty team tasks, which include assisting with temporarily unsupervised caseloads, answering phone calls, and interviewing new clients who were sentenced or released from prison.
Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as required.