Probation Officer- Adult Probation

Department: Adult Probation

Sub-Department: N/A

Pay Grade: PO-1

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Employment Status: Full-Time

Reports to: Probation Supervisor

Supervises: N/A

Position Code: AP2010

Job Summary:

An Adult Probation Officer performs duties and responsibilities consistent with the requirements of the Operating Standard for Adult Probation and Parole Departments, Rules of Criminal Court Procedure, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Code of Conduct, Evidence-Based Practices, and the department's mission statement. The mission and purpose of the department mandates that people who commit criminal acts be provided programming which provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed and the development of competencies to enable people to become responsible and productive members of the community. Evidence-based practices employ assessments, interventions, and treatment approaches that have been demonstrated by sound research to work most effectively to reduce recidivism. A probation officer needs to possess, develop, and continually refine the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conducts interviews and investigations with criminal justice involved people, family, victims, and other relevant individuals/entities, in the field or office.
• Administers and interprets screening and/or assessments instruments such as the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS), and other instruments
• Prepares reports and makes recommendations to the Court based on interviews, investigations, and results of screening and/or assessments instruments
• Prepares a supervision plan and case plan to ensure that balanced attention is provided to the needs of the community, the victim, and the person under supervision.
• Provides supervision and interventions based upon case plan, conditions of probation, and Orders of the Court, in the field or in the office.
• Assures adherence to victim's rights in accordance with the Victim Bill of Rights
• Collaborates with the person's family and community resources based on the case plan
• Provides directly and/or facilitates individual and/or group cognitive behavioral and skill building interventions for people based on training and expertise to address identified criminogenic needs
• Makes referrals for community-based services and monitors and assesses progress
• Employs graduated response systems to encourage and support desired behaviors and discourage and hold people under supervision accountable for undesired behaviors
• Takes into custody and detains people under supervision based on risk to appear for hearings and/or commit additional criminal acts while pending a hearing before the Court
• Makes referral to residential services and monitors progress based on the risk/needs identified in the case plan
• Maintains detailed and accurate records of the person's progress and compliance with the requirements of the case plan and conditions of probation
• Evaluates and makes recommendations for reduction/increase of the person's supervision level
• Other duties, as required

Minimum Requirements to Perform the Work:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 credits in the behavioral or social sciences from an accredited college or university

Experience, Certifications and Professional Development

• Maintain a valid Pennsylvania Driver's License
• Upon employment, must complete a minimum of 40 hours of annual professional development as recommended by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
• Prior to employment candidate will be required to obtain a Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Checks

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Department Standards and Policies

• Work and Conduct Supports Mission and Goals of the Department/Judiciary

• Demonstrates personal integrity and abides by the Code of Ethics

• Follows judicial polices/directives

• Follows departmental polices

• Demonstrates a willingness to employ Evidence Based Practices to reach departmental goals.

• Attentive to Departmental Safety Regulations/Policies

• Follows departmental safety regulations/polices

• Completes required training and properly uses methods for managing angry or physically assaultive individuals

• Properly cares for safety related equipment

• Communicates well with Coworkers and Supervisors before and after arrest situations

• Completes Arrest Reports in a timely manner

Professional Alliance and Growth

• Communicates Effectively with Departmental Employees, Court Personnel, Victims, and all External Stakeholders.

• Is authentic, attentive, and articulates effectively when communicating with others

• Is confident, respectful, and professional in all interactions

• Written and verbal communications are purposeful and timely

• Accepts responsibility, is responsive to suggestions and demonstrates the ability to be flexible, making appropriate adjustments when necessary

• Works Collaboratively with Workgroups/Teams/Committees

• Works collaboratively with others to prevent or resolve conflicts by gathering relevant information and evaluating alternatives, before making a decision

• Willing to accept new duties

• Volunteers and actively participates in committees/work groups

• Seeks Opportunities for Professional Development

• Completes required training hours

• Willingly participates in training to address needs identified through audits/formal observations, supervisor feedback, and personnel evaluations

• Keeps informed of best practices and issues in the field

Case Management and Supervision

• Risk Reduction

• Makes appropriate referrals for people based on the principles of risk, need and responsivity

• Provides appropriate information, per departmental policy, to the treatment/referral agency and obtains required documents from the treatment/referral agency

• Communicates with service providers to support the achievement of identified goals

• Accountability Measures

• Makes referrals to restorative programs, as appropriate

• Monitors payments of restitution and collaborates with the Collections Unit to ensure compliance

• Makes timely referrals and oversees completion of community service

• Screening/Assessment Tools

• Utilizes effective information gathering techniques

• Completes the screening/assessment tool in a detailed and timely manner

• Scoring of the screening/assessment tool is reliable and valid

• Level of supervision and risk assessment overrides are explained and documented per departmental policy

• Case Planning

• Prepares for development of initial case plan by identifying criminogenic needs and considers strategies for engaging people in setting goals related to increased competencies

• Strengths are identified and included in the case planning process

• Collaborates with people under supervision and family in developing and prioritizing goals to be incorporated into the case plan

• Develops a case plan which incorporates specific action steps while addressing responsivity needs

• When appropriate, case plans include linkage to agency involvement and treatment plans

• Intake and Interview Processes

• Demonstrates effective communication with people, and all stakeholders during the intake process.

• Utilizes Motivational Interviewing techniques to encourage positive behavior change and strengthen overall motivation for those in the contemplative state of behavior change.

• Listens effectively and encourages all parties to participate in the interviewing/intake process.

• Processes cases efficiently and adheres to all timelines established by policy.

• Transfer cases contain all necessary paperwork

• Day-to-Day Supervision

• Meets contact standards as required by departmental policy

• Monitors compliance with court requirements and laws

• Utilizes assessment results, case plan, skill building and structured sessions to focus discussions with people under supervision around behavior change

• Monitors progress, identifies barriers and assists people under supervision in solving problems to promote behavior change by utilizing client-centered skill building activities

• Graduated Responses

• Attentive to positive behavior and achievements and utilizes incentives to reinforce behavior change

• Recommends graduated sanctions for non-compliance in accordance with departmental policy/court directives

• Documentation

• Case notes are objective, timely, concise, and thorough

• Case notes adequately summarize significant events or non-compliance

• Case notes routinely summarize progress on supervision and case plan goals

• Data entry into AP and other data sources is timely, accurate, and complete

• Reports are factual, grammatically correct, and filed in a timely manner

• Court Duties/Recommendations

• Timely and complete preparation of all court documents

• Concise and clear recommendations to the courts based on a thorough analysis and summary of the case, including risk-level, and identified needs (both criminogenic and basic)

• Prepared and on time for all court related meetings

• Professional courtroom demeanor

Physical & Mental Demands:

• Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday. Stands, walks, bends twists and reaches as needed in the performance of their duties.
• Dexterity requirements range from simple to coordinated movements of fingers/hands; feet/legs, necessary to carry out duties of the job.
• Sedentary to heavy work with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with a maximum weight of approx. 25 lbs.
• Must be able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the position
• Must be able to react to a variety of scenarios when interacting with offenders including arresting offenders as needed.
• Must have the ability to pay close attention to details and concentrate on work

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