Release Assistance Officer

State of Oregon • Grants Pass, OR

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to impact their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work experience, education, and any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.

The Josephine County Circuit Court in Grants Pass, Oregon, is hiring a Release Assistance Officer. In this role, you will interview defendants being held in custody pending trial, as well as victims and other interested parties, to determine the defendants’ eligibility for pretrial release. You will research and prepare recommendation reports for judges about adults in custody who are ineligible for release. To monitor defendants who are on release agreements, you will conduct research, maintain contact with the defendants to assist them with appearing for court, ensure victim and public safety, verify court dates, and manage and log required check-ins. You will identify and prepare files that need to be added to dockets, and you may attend court hearings to testify about release decisions. Additionally, you will perform data entry related to pretrial release, prepare new files and court orders, and review and monitor criminal reports, including the statuses of warrants. You will provide customer service by assisting judges, court staff, attorneys, defendants, and the public in person, over the phone, and in writing. You will spend part of your time verifying income. To do this, you will complete financial affidavits to determine eligibility for court-appointed counsel. You will prepare, disperse, and collect affidavits of indigence for adults in custody who are set for arraignment. You will also route completed court-appointed affidavits for verification. Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social/human services, or a closely related field. OR Four (4) years of experience in criminal justice or a court environment. OR Any combination of education and experience equivalent to four (4) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
• Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) certification or have the ability to obtain certification within six months of hire.
• Experience conducting interviews to obtain personal or financial information.
• Experience communicating calmly and effectively, orally and in writing, with people in emotionally charged and stressful situations.
• Experience communicating decisions regarding the approval or denial of benefits or services and the explanation of laws, rules, or regulations.
• Experience using a computer to access and input information and complete work.
• Experience working in a court, criminal justice, corrections, or other legal environment.

Responsibilities

• Interview defendants being held in custody pending trial, as well as victims and other interested parties, to determine the defendants’ eligibility for pretrial release.
• Research and prepare recommendation reports for judges about adults in custody who are ineligible for release.
• Conduct research, maintain contact with the defendants to assist them with appearing for court, ensure victim and public safety, verify court dates, and manage and log required check-ins for defendants who are on release agreements.
• Identify and prepare files that need to be added to dockets, and you may attend court hearings to testify about release decisions.
• Perform data entry related to pretrial release, prepare new files and court orders, and review and monitor criminal reports, including the statuses of warrants.
• Provide customer service by assisting judges, court staff, attorneys, defendants, and the public in person, over the phone, and in writing.
• Complete financial affidavits to determine eligibility for court-appointed counsel.
• Prepare, disperse, and collect affidavits of indigence for adults in custody who are set for arraignment.
• Route completed court-appointed affidavits for verification.

Benefits

• We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
• You are potentially eligible for a 5% annual increase.

What This Job Offers

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