Assistant Probation Officer

The Position

This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00pm on: 4/10/26, 7/10/26, 10/9/26 Under supervision, learns to apply the principles and techniques of probation work; supervises and counsels individuals detained in, committed to, or sheltered in one of several County juvenile institutions; supervises minors assigned to Work Project; and provides close supervision of minors placed on home supervision.

Examples Of Knowledge And Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Principles and techniques applicable to the care and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents
• The growth, development, needs and problems of minors
• Symptoms of behavior disorders
• Group dynamics
• Applicable laws, rules, codes, standards and regulations governing care and treatment of juveniles in juvenile hall, camps, ranches or schools
• Principles of investigation and laws governing search, seizure and preservation of evidence
• Counseling techniques
• Basic housekeeping techniques
• Hygienic standards
• Motivational techniques
• Crisis intervention techniques
• Self-defense techniques
• Arrest procedures
• Appropriate use of force and security techniques
• Rights and liabilities of peace officers
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Ability to:

• Secure the respect and confidence of adolescents
• Cope with hostility and aggressive behavior
• Work well as a member of a team
• Exercise good judgment and act calmly in emergency situations
• Recognize subtle changes in behavior
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Effectively organize and prioritize work assignments
• Prepare concise and clear reports
• Maintain records
• Communicate with individuals from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited four year college or university, preferably with a degree in criminal justice, social or another behavioral science. Up to one year of the required education may be substituted by experience in full-time, or equivalent part-time, paid law enforcement or correctional work in a probation or parole agency, or correctional institution on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month = 3 semester or 4.5 quarter units.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here or speak to someone in our office before the final filing or cut-off date listed in this notice.

Note: If the word "experience" is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

General Qualifications:

• Criminal History and Background Checks: Appointees must pass a criminal history and background check, and pursuant to California Government Code, Section 1029, the conviction of a felony is grounds for disqualification from an appointment. Pursuant to Sacramento County Civil Service Rules, candidates found to have been convicted of a felony will be disqualified.
• License Requirement: A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, shall be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Compliance with Government Code: Incumbents appointed to this class shall meet the minimum standards set forth in California Government Code, Section 1031.
• Certification Requirement: Satisfactory completion of required P.O.S.T. training for Probation Officers as specified in Section 832 of the Penal Code must be completed within one year after appointment as an Assistant Probation Officer. In addition, all appointees shall also be required to complete any other P.O.S.T. or other training required by law or by the department.
• Physical Requirements: Positions in this class require the incumbents to: frequently stand, walk, run, stoop, bend and climb stairs. Lift individuals, which requires strength, coordination, endurance, and agility. Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Working Conditions: Positions in this class require the incumbents to: work irregular hours, including holidays and weekends. Occasionally have contact with hostile individuals. Be subjected to physical and verbal abuse while restraining individuals.

The probationary period for this classification is twelve (12) months.

Application And Testing Information

Application: Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date.

County of Sacramento Department of Personnel Services Employment Services Division 700 H Street, Room 4667 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone View phone number on click.appcast.io; 7-1-1 California Relay Service Email View email address on click.appcast.io Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667

Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.

Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.

Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.

Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.

A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

Supplemental Questionnaire: Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions". Please be descriptive in your response.

Note: Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.

The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.

Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.

If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.

Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.

If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.

If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score