Release Assistance Officer

State of Oregon • Grants Pass, OR

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Interviews: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, it may take several weeks after the application deadline for us to schedule interviews. Those selected for interview will receive an invitation via email or phone; please monitor your junk/spam folder and make sure you are able to receive voicemail. Who We Are 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 .

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, behavioral or social/human services, or a closely related field.
• Four (4) years of experience in criminal justice or a court environment.
• 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 ability to obtain certification within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Monitor defendants who are on release agreements by conducting research, maintaining contact with the defendants to assist them with appearing for court, ensuring victim and public safety, verifying court dates, and managing and logging required check-ins.
• Identify and prepare files that need to be added to dockets.
• May attend court hearings to testify about release decisions.
• Perform data entry related to pretrial release.
• Prepare new files and court orders.
• 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.
• Verify income by completing 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.
• Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.

Benefits

• 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid 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).
• Optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
• Potential for a 5% annual increase.
• Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

What This Job Offers

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