CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPECIALIST

Criminal Justice Specialist

Performs a variety of criminal justice duties related to the interviewing, assessing, monitoring of defendants and sentenced offenders in the local and state criminal justice system. Will provide services to Community-Based clientele, including Pretrial, Diversion, Deferred, Useful Public Service, Electronic Monitoring and Day Reporting Program clients; generally, in a community-based office or detention office setting.

Essential Job Functions:

• First point of contact for new program clients at the Community Based Services Building, completes intakes, explains program guidelines and expectations.
• May conduct interviews of defendants in the detention facility and prepare detailed pretrial reports and provide information for courts and attorneys for the purposes of informed bond hearings.
• Will also evaluate and recommend defendants for release from detention with or without supervision and/or eligibility for various diversion programs.
• Performs work in the reception area of the community-based facility, providing positive customer service to both clients and community members, as well as maintaining facility and staff security.
• Collects, deciphers, and enters data utilizing multiple computer programs.
• Supervises client drug and alcohol tests and collects urinalysis samples.
• Monitors clients in the community to ensure compliance with program and court requirements, including supervision of defendant's bond requirements or diversion/deferred judicial contracts and conditions.
• Appears in court regularly for a variety of hearings including arraignment hearings, and may testify in court for probation hearings, bond revocation hearings, hearings on client progress etc.
• Responds to client problems and/or inappropriate behavior; provides guidance to clients to influence behavior modification stemming from evidence-based practices and skills; mediates disputes; explores problem-solving techniques; performs crisis intervention as appropriate, as well as motivational interviewing.
• Assesses clients and makes appropriate referrals to various community agencies for services.
• May provide supervision and monitoring of Division of Youth Corrections, Probation and Parole Offenders ensuring compliance with supervision and program conditions in either a community based or residential setting.
• May monitor a residential community corrections facility, which is open 24 hours per day, ensuring the security, safety and well-being of the public, staff and clients by direct observation, use of video surveillance and monitoring alarms.
• Initiates random and regular monitoring of clients; completes security rounds; supervises client behavior and activities; conducts medication monitoring activities, checks clients in and out of the facility. Conducts on-site employment visits and home visits. Performs home searches, client searches, vehicle searches, and other security functions as assigned. Responds to client incidents, crisis and violations in the field and coordinates law enforcement assistance. May be required to restrain hostile or chemically affected individuals and transport them to appropriate facilities.
• Collects fees and payments through various methods including cash, provides receipts and secures such in accordance with approved financial procedures. Uses various computer applications and documents and enters data to record information. Responsible for writing incident reports, application referrals, client intakes and other administrative paperwork as required.
• Work involves shift work other than regular business hours including weekends, evenings and holidays and rotating.
• Oral and written communications must be clear, effective and professional.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age and successfully pass a background check, including fingerprinting.
• Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent supplemented by training programs in the area of assignment.
• Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job.
• Licenses and Certifications: CPR certification and Basic First Aid Certification (can be obtained after hire)CPI (Crisis Intervention) Certification (can be obtained after hire)Motivational Interviewing Skills preferred.Valid Colorado Driver's License

Physical Requirements and Working Environment:

• This position requires standing, stooping, sitting, bending, twisting, and lifting up to 60 pounds.
• Occasional exposure of work time to hazardous situations which involve physically violent persons, interviewing mentally or emotionally disturbed persons or bodily injury from biohazards, infections, or blood-borne pathogens.
• Requires irregular hours and shifts including days, swings, graveyard shifts, weekends and holidays.

In compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act the following items can be used as a determining factor in the starting and ongoing wage of an employee working in this position:

• A seniority system that rewards employees based on length of employment.
• A merit system that rewards employees for exceptional job performance.
• Education, training, or experience to the extent that they are reasonably related to the work in question.
• Another factor related to job performance or business operations, such as paying a shift differential to workers on less popular shifts
• Travel, if the travel is a regular and necessary condition of the work performed

This position is eligible for the following Mesa County benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Life insurance
• Long term disability