Probation Officer Supervisor

Lancaster County•Lancaster, PA

12d

About The Position

This supervisory position oversees all pre-sentence pretrial operations, including investigations, intake, supervision, compliance monitoring, DUI Repeat Offender Program duties, electronic and alcohol monitoring, and violation processing. The Supervisor ensures consistent application of pretrial procedures, staff performance, correct use of monitoring technology, timely reporting to the Court, and effective supervision of defendants released pending disposition. The position reports directly to the Special Supervision Division Director within Adult Probation and Parole Services. Five Pre-Trial Services Specialists report to this position. The Supervisor oversees Pretrial Specialists and Senior Specialists, assigns caseloads, conducts caseload audits, directs defendant screenings and interviews, reviews and approves monitoring equipment installation and documentation, reviews vendor invoices, and oversees monitoring alerts and home suitability assessments. The Supervisor reviews and approves violation reports, petitions, and hearing schedules; supports staff testimony; guides complex and higher-risk cases; and ensures accurate case records, statistical reports, and committee submissions. The role also assists with policy and protocol development, coordinates with courts and partner organizations, provides pretrial statistics, manages staff performance and development, participates in hiring and training, attends required training, and provides unit coverage and administrative support as needed. It may include duties historically performed by the Bail Administrator, depending on operational needs during the transition of Pretrial Services into APPS. The County of Lancaster describes its employee benefits as comprehensive and provides equal employment opportunity. Applicants must pass a criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and driver history check. The position has potential exposure to Hepatitis B; training and voluntary vaccination are provided. Physical requirements include prolonged sitting at times, escorting defendants, operating a computer or laptop, moving files weighing up to 10 pounds, ability to affect an arrest and defend oneself from personal attack, and providing transportation to and from job-related appointments and locations.

Requirements

Completion of a bachelor’s degree program with coursework in psychology, social work, criminal justice, or a closely related field, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
Two years of experience in pretrial services, probation/parole, corrections, or a related field, or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
Pass a criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and driver history check.
Knowledge of individual and group behavior, particularly behavior related to criminal activity or pretrial risk factors.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for redirecting or supporting individuals pending trial, including strategies that encourage compliance and reduce failure-to-appear risk.
Basic knowledge of criminal justice principles, statutes, rules, and procedures related to bail, pretrial release, court requirements, and supervision conditions.
Ability to learn and apply pretrial supervision operations and procedures, including risk assessment, compliance monitoring, court reporting, and resource coordination.
Ability to communicate effectively with defendants, their families, the Judiciary, coworkers, partner agencies, and the public in a pre-sentence context.
Ability to identify and coordinate community resources such as substance-use evaluations, mental-health services, housing stability, and transportation to court.
Ability to plan, document, and carry out steps supporting compliance with court-ordered conditions, including alcohol/drug testing, electronic monitoring, curfews, treatment requirements, and no-contact orders.
Thorough knowledge of supervisory practices and case-management principles.
Leadership skills and ability to delegate tasks, support teamwork, and work independently.
Ability to supervise unit staff effectively, providing guidance, direction, and corrective feedback to maintain efficient and consistent pretrial operations.
Ability to maintain accurate and complete pretrial case records, monitoring reports, intake documents, petitions, and compliance logs.
Ability to plan, organize, and manage time efficiently and effectively.
Ability and willingness to work with people from diverse backgrounds with patience, tolerance, and professional understanding.
Proficiency in or willingness to learn relevant software applications.
Ability to sit, sometimes for long periods; escort defendants from a waiting area to an office; operate a computer or laptop; lift and move files weighing up to 10 pounds; affect an arrest of a defendant; defend oneself from personal attack; and provide transportation to and from job-related locations in a timely manner.

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee Pretrial Specialists and Senior Specialists and their work determining program eligibility and supervising defendants released pending trial.
Assign caseloads and conduct caseload audits to ensure consistent standards for office visits, field contacts, home checks, curfew verification, employment and address checks, drug testing, and court-date confirmation.
Direct screening and interviewing of detained defendants, including DUI-related assessments, to determine eligibility for pretrial release.
Review and approve installation and documentation of house-arrest, GPS, SCRAM, and radio-frequency monitoring equipment; establish breathalyzer and drug-testing baselines; and review vendor invoices and approve them for payment.
Ensure daily review of monitoring alerts, including alcohol use, tampering, temperature variations, curfew violations, and loss-of-signal events; oversee electronic-monitoring home suitability assessments.
Review and approve violation reports, petitions, and Court hearing schedules, and support staff testimony when required.
Guide staff on complex cases, including DUI repeat offenders and higher-risk defendants, and ensure accurate case records, statistical reports, and committee submissions.
Assist in developing and implementing pretrial policies, procedures, and monitoring protocols, including DUI supervision protocols, aligned with nationally recognized best practices, evidence-based decision-making, and risk-informed supervision.
Coordinate with courts, prison personnel, attorneys, law enforcement, treatment providers, monitoring vendors, the Deputy Court Administrator – Criminal, and relevant organizations or committees on pretrial matters.
Provide accurate pretrial and intake statistics and trends to the Prison Population Reduction Committee and monitor budget elements associated with pretrial service functions.
Approve leave requests; conduct formal performance evaluations; provide coaching, corrective action, and professional development; and participate in selection, hiring, and training of Pretrial Services personnel.
Attend required safety, monitoring technology, motivational interviewing, and human-services training, and ensure staff proficiency in investigations, case-management systems, monitoring equipment, and DUI protocols.
Provide unit coverage during staff absences and support Adult Probation & Parole Services administration with departmental initiatives and development functions as needed.
Perform duties historically carried out by the Bail Administrator when operationally required during the transition of Pretrial Services into APPS.
Perform related work as required.