Probation Officer - Sr (Hispanic Culture Specialist)

Job Title

Starting Compensation: $61,542.00/Annually

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Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

• This position involves the administration of criminal justice, supervising individuals on the Spanish Bilingual caseload who are under probation or parole supervision.
• Work is accomplished through the assignment of a caseload of individuals for which the employee is responsible.
• As an appointed representative of the Court, this employee is responsible to provide legal accountability through enforcement, intervention, and redirection as required/needed by each client on probation/parole supervision.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• This position reports directly to a Supervisor in Adult Probation and Parole Services.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• 30% Interview assigned Hispanic offenders, using Spanish language, in office, prison, home, and employment settings to determine compliance with supervision directives, problems encountered, progress in applicable programs, and any other particular circumstances. Interview offender's family members, friends, associates, co-workers, and other knowledgeable individuals, using Spanish language, to verify information.
• 20% Develop and implement intervention strategies necessary to reduce or eliminate offender's criminal behavior. Determine the type and extent of counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, and other supports needed. Coordinate support and treatment services between Hispanic community-based service providers and the Office of Adult Probation and Parole. Develop and participate in short and long-range goals and plans including treatment services, supervision requirements, and support networks. This essential function requires both verbal and written communication in Spanish.
• 15% Complete required documentation both within and for related agencies.
• 15% Assist in locating and handling offenders in instances of parole violations and/or subsequent offenses. Prepare summaries of case records and history, including recommendations for continued and/or changes to treatment. Schedule actions and work required by terms of status, including court dates, hearing, and evaluations. Attend court appearances to provide requested information and secure documents.
• 5% Review available records of past criminal history, psychological or psychiatric evaluations, diagnostic testing, employment, and related psycho-social information. Extrapolate and interpret data with regards to cultural distinctiveness and language barriers, as relates to Hispanic culture.
• 5% Assess or re-assess overall risk and needs of offenders, using Spanish language, through the use of the APPS assessment tool and evaluate for specific intervention/treatment needs. Identify behavior patterns and adaptive skills.
• 5% Cooperate with other APPS programs, assisting in providing coverage when casework demands created by the absence of Spanish-speaking personnel create the need. This essential function requires both verbal and written communication in Spanish.
• 5% Regularly attend mandatory and additional training in the areas of safety, self-defense, related human service areas, and for full/up-to-date proficiency in the use of computers, as required by job duties. Employee will learn arrest skills and become involved in offender detentions.

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

• Performs related work as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education requirement is completion of a bachelor's degree program with course work in psychology, social work, criminal justice or closely related field; must have a working knowledge and understanding of Hispanic culture; must be fluent in Spanish and able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with members of the Hispanic community; or
• any combination of the minimum acceptable education and experience which has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities cited above.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the cultural dynamics and sociological identifiers of the predominant Hispanic community. Use of this knowledge is crucial to the effective supervision/treatment of Hispanic offenders and is critical for the proper protection of the community.
• Knowledge of characteristics of individual and group behavior, particularly that of individuals involved with criminal activities and/or anti-social behavior.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques used in counseling adult offenders.
• Basic knowledge of the principles and policies of the criminal justice system, including statutes, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to learn the specific operations, practices, and procedures of probation and parole supervision, as it applies to treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written in Spanish and English languages, with offenders, their associates, members of the Judiciary, co-workers, representatives of other agencies, and the public.
• Ability to identify and locate available community resources dealing with issues affecting Hispanic offenders.
• Ability to plan, document, and carry out all steps necessary to implement treatment intervention strategies.
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete caseload records for use by others.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage time with efficiency and effectiveness.
• Proficiency in the use of, or willingness to learn, computers and software applications, as required by job duties.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

• The candidate must pass a criminal background check, a pre-employment drug screen and a driver history check.
• In accordance with the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's Bilingual Employee Policy, the candidate must pass a language skills test at an Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale of 2+ or higher.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position has been identified as having the potential for exposure to Hepatitis B. Access to training and a voluntary vaccination against Hepatitis B is provided.
• Ability to sit, sometimes for long periods of time.
• Ability to escort offenders from waiting area to office.
• Ability to operate a computer or laptop.
• Ability to lift and move files weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to effect an arrest of an offender.
• Ability to defend oneself from personal attack.
• Ability to provide own transportation to and from offender's homes, meetings, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner and ability to access those locations with reasonable accommodations.

The County of Lancaster offers comprehensive benefits to our employees. Read more about our benefits here. Lancaster County Government provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information or disability. The County also observes all applicable laws regarding Veterans status. The County reflects this action in all areas of employment and compensation practices and policies. Employment with the County is based upon the ability to perform the job as well as dependability and reliability once an individual is hired.