Senior Probation/Diversion Officer

The City of Lakewood is dedicated to upholding City values to include: Performance Excellence, Leadership, Respect and Collaboration. Best fit candidates will demonstrate innovation, customer service, dedication, passion and engagement. All people, citizens and employees, will be treated with respect, relevance, and importance.

HIRING RANGE: $43.02 - $47.80/hour

The Senior Probation Officer manages a full caseload of juvenile and adult offenders and oversees a specialized supervision area. This role requires strong public speaking skills, knowledge of offender behavior and community resources, extensive familiarity with eCourt functions, and program development experience. Under the direction of the Chief Probation Officer, the Senior Probation Officer reviews the accuracy and appropriateness of offender recommendations to the court, assists with implementing eCourt changes, and trains probation staff on system updates. The position may also involve researching and preparing written or oral reports, grants, and projects as assigned. In the Chief Probation Officer's absence, the Senior Probation/Diversion Officer assumes supervisory responsibilities over Probation staff. The role provides responsive, high quality service to municipal court employees, external agencies, and the public by delivering accurate, complete, and current information in a courteous and efficient manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City's discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Performs all probation officer duties with a high level of professionalism and effectiveness, requiring minimal supervision, and assists the Chief Probation Officer with additional tasks as needed.

• Assists with staff training on policies, procedures, resources, sentencing recommendations, risk assessments, and eCourt; supports development of new processes and procedures as laws or sentencing requirements change.

• Provides written performance feedback on probation staff to the Chief Probation Officer for the Performance Development Review (PRD).

• Helps oversee specialized programs and serves as a court navigator, connecting offenders with appropriate resources; duties may occur in the jail, in the field, or in an office setting.

• Manages a large caseload with complex issues under strict legal guidelines while handling frequent interruptions; intervenes in crisis situations involving suicide, domestic violence, runaways, and similar emergencies.

• Demonstrates ethical behavior and leadership by holding self and others accountable.

• Maintains regular contact with offenders, families, the public, internal staff, external divisions, partner jurisdictions, and treatment providers.

• Enhances team effectiveness and leverages internal resources to support high-quality work.

• Makes timely, effective decisions based on case circumstances, public safety considerations, applicable statutes and ordinances, court procedures, prosecutorial recommendations, judicial guidance, and supervisory direction.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received: General supervision from the Chief Probation Officer. Follows proper chain of command when conducting day-to-day operations.

Supervision Exercised: The Probation/Diversion Officer Senior position is responsible for assuming supervisory responsibilities in the absence of the Chief Probation Officer.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to research and prepare written and oral reports, grants, and assignments as requested by the Chief Probation Officer.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to calmly and clearly communicate with angry or frustrated individuals and de‑escalate conflict.
• Effective listening skills to gather offender information and case details, with discretion in determining appropriate sentencing recommendations that consider the safety of the offender, victim, and public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive case information and personnel matters.
• Ability to adapt to changing caseloads, regulations, and work conditions, including continual one‑on‑one exposure to low‑ and high‑risk offenders and managing complex caseloads under strict legal guidelines and frequent interruptions.
• Ability to make timely, effective decisions without supervision and accept responsibility for those decisions.
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and City of Lakewood laws related to probation and diversion, including legal terminology, court principles, practices, procedures, guidelines, and departmental rules and regulations.
• Public speaking skills to represent the Court in meetings, boards, committees, and other public or private settings.
• Ability to serve as a positive role model and interact effectively with offenders, coworkers, and community partners.
• Ability to evaluate criminogenic needs, behaviors, and rehabilitation potential and clearly articulate this information to the court.
• Strong program knowledge to support program growth and streamline processes.
• Ability to make quick and effective decisions based on case circumstances, public safety concerns, statutes, ordinances, court procedures, prosecutorial recommendations, judicial guidance, and supervisory expectations.
• Ability to navigate and utilize eCourt and related systems.
• Ability to intervene effectively during crisis situations (e.g., suicide, domestic violence, runaways).
• Strong ethical judgment and accountability.

Education and Experience

• Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required (preferably in Criminal Justice or Social Sciences).

• Experience:

• Five years' experience in the criminal justice system dealing with at-risk populations, juveniles, domestic violence perpetrators and victims.

• The Senior Probation/Diversion Officer must have experience in high-pressure environment with public speaking as well as specialized training, knowledge or experience with a specific offender population: domestic violence offenders, prostitution, juvenile offenders and/or veterans.

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Valid driver's license and good motor vehicle driving record strongly preferred.

LIGHT WORK: Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work

Physical Demands

Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa

Sit, stand or be stationary

Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information

Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, grasp, move, feel, and inspect, etc.

Walk, ascend, descend on both even and uneven terrain

Vision to include distance, depth perception, peripheral and color

Environmental Conditions may include

Office settings

Physical Requirements - No Physical Needed

Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or positions from all levels up to 30 lbs. with or without assistance

Pay Range

$36.82-$47.80

Background and reference checks will be conducted for all regular and some variable/seasonal positions.