County Probation Officer II

COUNTY PROBATION OFFICER II
County Services Division

Pay grade 13
Non-Exempt
$22.83 - $33.10 hr. ($47,486.40 - $68,848.00 annual)
M-F, 8A-5P

Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions and job-related requirements, including physical and cognitive demands, are described below. This job description outlines the general scope of duties and responsibilities and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be assigned.

MAJOR FUNCTION:
Responsible for the supervision of Court ordered offenders assigned to the County Probation Division and released from Polk County jail into the Electronic Monitoring Program. Ensures that all individuals placed under the supervision of this agency are in complete compliance with all Court ordered conditions or are returned to Court for appropriate disposition should they fail to meet their obligations.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES:

• Receives referrals, schedules and complete intake interviews; conducts risk assessments to determine appropriate level of supervision; determines appropriate agency or location for referral for completion of special conditions; and instructs offenders regarding all aspects of their Court Ordered probation, including potential legal sanctions for failure to comply.

• Assesses offenders’ ability to complete Court Ordered Community Service Hours and makes assignments to an appropriate worksite.

• Arranges, coordinates and monitors substance abuse evaluations, treatment and urinalysis.

• Coordinates and/or schedules D.U.I. school, driving school, anger management classes, behavior modification courses, Human Trafficking classes, boating classes, parenting classes, Victim impact panels, vehicle immobilization, gun safety courses, hunting safety courses and any other educational or corrective measures deemed appropriate by the Judge.

• Maintains detailed progressive case notes on each offender. Documents all instructions to, and contacts with, offender.

• Monitors, and responds appropriately to, multiple due dates related to each probation sentence.

• Must attend and testify under oath at Court hearings as to offender’s compliance or non-compliance with their Court order.

• Must make sound recommendations for sentencing based on statute, criminal history, and specifics of defendant’s attempt to comply with court orders.

• Proposes, prepares and generates legal documents including, but not limited to, terminations of probation, modifications of probation, orders revoking warrants, affidavits of violation of probation, arrest warrants, and notices to appear.

• Coordinates and cooperates with Judges, Public Defender, State Attorney, law enforcement, Pre-Trial Release, private counsel and other criminal justice related resource agencies.

• Retains and compiles data to be used in monthly, quarterly and annual statistical reports relating to the budget process and to satisfy County, State, and Federal requirements.

• Monitors, tracks, collects and distributes funds resulting from the payment of monetary obligations for each offender, including restitution and Cost of Supervision.

• Completes detailed, accurate and thorough Pre-Sentence Investigations as ordered by the Court; makes informed, legally appropriate recommendations for sentence based on statute, prior criminal history, and circumstances of the charge.

• Attaches electronic monitoring equipment on the offender.

• Instructs all offenders regarding court ordered requirements and informs offenders that their release from jail is contingent on their compliance with all specifics of the court’s instructions.

• Instructs and directs offenders in the proper usage, maintenance and rules of provided equipment.

• Schedules times and dates when the offender is to be at work, at home or at other predetermined locations.

• Sets up computer aided programs and enters data to ensure offender is monitored at all times.

• May set up inclusion or exclusion zones and explain these zones and their purpose to the offender. Monitors and reacts to violations of these predetermined restraints.

• Conducts field visits to ensure offender is complying with outlined restrictions and that all equipment is working properly.

• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of the theories, techniques and methods of case management procedures specifically relating to criminal justice offenders.

• Working knowledge of Federal, State, County and local agencies to which offenders may be referred.

• Knowledge of penal rules and regulations and jail procedures.

• Knowledge of court procedures and court appearance scheduling as relates to first appearance, preliminary hearings, arraignments, and trials.

• Knowledge of laws and procedures relating to maintenance of confidential court records and compliance with HIPAA regulations.

• Skill in interviewing offenders to identify discrepancies in information provided or falsification of documentation with ability to determine appropriate next step, i.e. new charges.

• Skill in dealing with offenders and family members under stressful conditions.

• Knowledge of criminal justice agencies and applicable community resources.

• Ability to maintain an effective working relationship with court and law enforcement personnel and officials, other employees, offenders, and the public.

• Ability to use good judgment and make independent decisions.

• Ability to correctly apply applicable laws, regulations and policies to individual cases.

• Ability to collect, organize and evaluate data and to develop logical conclusions based on the collected data.

• Ability to use a computer terminal to enter and extract information.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records not deemed to be public information.

• Ability to organize, prioritize and manage work to meet necessary time requirements and workload.

• Ability to work cooperatively as a team member with other employees of the work unit.

• Ability to maintain attention to detail.

• Ability to remain calm in an anxious, intense environment.

• Ability to remain flexible as conditions change and continue effective performance in the face of additional challenges.

• Ability to use discernment in unusual situations and react accordingly to maintain safety of self and coworkers both in the office and in the field.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an accredited four (4) year college or university with major course work in criminology, psychology, sociology or a related field

• A minimum of two (2) years’ probation, related case management or criminal justice experience.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment.

• A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

SPECIAL PREFERENCE:

• Bilingual ability (English - Spanish) is preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have own daily transportation and have a telephone available 24 hours a day as employee is subject to call.

• Because County Probation and the BoCC have a high degree of public accountability, regular attendance and punctuality are essential requirements of this position.

• Applicants/employees shall be fingerprinted and subject to personal background investigations procedures to ascertain an evaluation and determination of moral character.

• Must successfully clear pre-employment psychological evaluations.

• Must undergo a Level 2 (FDLE) screening submitted electronically before commencing work. This certification must be maintained as a condition of employment.

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.