Probation Officer/Probation Officer - Bilingual (Criminal)

New Jersey Courts•New Brunswick, NJ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Middlesex Vicinage Criminal Division seeks organized, detail-oriented candidates with strong interpersonal, customer service, problem-solving, reasoning, written communication, and technical skills. The position involves interviewing clients in offices, county jails, holding cells, or by video or telephone to assess eligibility for public defender representation and/or prepare comprehensive Pre-Sentence Investigator and Pre-Trial Intervention reports. This includes researching criminal history and contacting other agencies to obtain court history and relevant information. The successful candidate may communicate with judges, managers, and court staff about case status and issues; screen cases for Recovery Court eligibility; and provide master-level support for court proceedings. Court support may include coordinating judicial calendars, scheduling proceedings, coordinating attorney availability and readiness, moderating virtual hearings and conferences, analyzing case-processing issues, and recommending workflow improvements. The position may also involve reviewing backlog reports, conferring with judges on policies and courtroom procedures, leading and training co-workers on assigned tasks, developing or implementing procedures or systems, and informing managers of unresolved issues or team conflicts. Related duties may be assigned. The Judiciary offers a hybrid schedule, and the position may qualify for up to two remote-work days outside Judiciary buildings. Participation requires a multifactor authentication app on a phone or tablet and high-speed home internet. Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function. The salary range is $55,943.00–$95,153.11 for Schedule A and $55,943.00–$91,346.99 for Schedule B. Newly hired employees normally start at the minimum of the applicable range. Key entry-level professional positions may be filled as they become available in the Criminal, Family, and Probation Divisions, and selected candidates may be assigned to any of these divisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any area, including or supplemented by 24 credit hours in behavioral or social sciences.
Applicants approaching their anticipated graduation date may apply, but must complete the degree no later than their start date if selected.
Submit a photocopy of the college or university transcript with the application; an official transcript is required before the start date if selected.
Candidates for a bilingual variant title must pass the New Jersey Civil Service Commission Bilingual Communicative Ability Test (BICAT) performance examination or provide proof of established bilingual proficiency with the Commission.
Newly hired employees must agree to a background check that includes fingerprinting.
Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Newly hired Judiciary employees must establish and maintain their principal residence in New Jersey within one year, subject to applicable exemptions.
For advancement candidates: one aggregate year of permanent service in the classified career-service title of Investigator or Investigator Bilingual, and the required bachelor's degree with 24 behavioral or social sciences credit hours.
For lateral candidates: current Judiciary employment in the title of Probation Officer or Probation Officer-Bilingual and one year of permanent service in that title as of the announced closing date.
A New Jersey-valid driver's license is required only if operating a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties.

Responsibilities

Interview clients in offices, county jails, holding cells, or by video or telephone to determine eligibility for public defender representation.
Prepare detailed, comprehensive Pre-Sentence Investigator and/or Pre-Trial Intervention reports.
Research criminal history records and contact other agencies to obtain complete prior court history and other pertinent information.
Communicate regularly with judges, managers, and court staff about case status and issues.
Screen cases for Recovery Court eligibility in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Provide master-level support for court proceedings, including coordinating judicial calendars and scheduling court dates and times in compliance with operating standards.
Coordinate attorney availability and readiness for proceedings, including approval of adjournment requests.
Moderate virtual court hearings and attorney conferences using available technology.
Analyze case-processing issues and recommend corrective actions.
Review and analyze backlog reports with the Judge or Division Manager and take appropriate action to reduce backlog.
Confer with judges about policies and assist with implementing courtroom procedures to improve case processing and workflow.
Act as a lead worker for team members or other non-subordinate groups on assigned tasks and provide training or cross-training to co-workers.
Develop and/or implement operating procedures or systems.
Inform managers about unresolved issues or team conflicts.
Perform related duties as assigned.