Probation Officer Trainee

State of Nebraska•Grand Island, NE

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This entry-level position provides job orientation and training under close supervision for one year, allowing the trainee to gain experience and develop the ability to perform investigatory and supervisory responsibilities involving offenders. The trainee works under direct supervision in an assigned district and receives training in caseload management, investigation report preparation, offender supervision, intake and detention interviews, court testimony, drug and alcohol testing, arrests or detentions under direction, and electronic monitoring equipment management. The position is based at 117 East 1st, Grand Island, Nebraska. Regular travel within the district is required for community visits and operational support, with occasional regional travel for orientation, training, and educational workshops. Core hours are Monday through Friday during the day; occasional on-call, evening, weekend, and holiday availability is required. The starting salary is $42,863.87 annually. A 2.5% pay increase is available after successful completion of the probation period, except for candidates approved to start at or above the Minimum Permanent rate. Higher starting pay may be considered based on education and experience, subject to management approval. Annual cost-of-living adjustments, applied July 1, are subject to State Legislature approval.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social services or criminal justice; consideration is given to candidates who will receive their degree within 120 days of application.
Educational credits must be from an accredited institution approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Knowledge of customer service principles; the criminal justice system, laws, legal codes, and court procedures; interview and assessment procedures; intervention policies and procedures; signs of abuse, mental health issues, or neglect; crisis intervention techniques; modern office procedures and equipment; record-keeping principles; document review techniques; and computers and related software.
Skills in making home visits, interviewing probationers, tracking probationers’ locations, using probation and protective techniques, applying applicable laws and regulations, preparing activity reports and updating databases, and operating computers and applicable software.
Communication and interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange information with coworkers, supervisors, the public, and others and receive work direction.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including light work: exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Responsibilities

Learn to conduct pre-sentence and pre-disposition investigations for adult and juvenile offenders, including intake and assessment interviews with offenders, families, and others.
Learn to make sentencing recommendations based on case findings, present information verbally and in writing to the court, and complete intake paperwork.
Learn to perform risk assessments, determine appropriate supervision levels, recommend incentives or sanctions, and monitor drug screens.
Meet with clients on probation to provide counseling, complete case reporting, and manage caseloads; conduct assessments and follow-ups, help clients meet court requirements, and refer them to community resources.
Prepare violation and compliance reports, conduct record checks, enter and update client information in applicable systems, and determine which reports to send to the court.
Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.
Conduct community visits and travel within the district to support operations.
Participate in occasional regional travel for orientation, training, and educational workshops.