Probation Job Descriptions

Chief Probation Officer

CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER I: Eighth District Juvenile Court, Utah State Courts, Vernal, UT. Summary: Under general direction of the Court Executive, manages the operations of the probation and intake functions for the eighth district. Oversees evaluation, development, and implementation of services and programs. Duties: Directs operations and provides leadership for probation/intake staff and services; establishes procedures and standards for compliance with legal requirements; evaluates and recommends changes in programs, policies and procedures, and operations; monitors work flow, case processing and workload; participates as a member of the district management team in evaluating, planning and implementing programs; maintains liaison in coordinating activities with judges and the clerk of court. represents district in various interagency activities; i.e., law enforcement, education, human services, local communities and other public agencies and organizations; acts as probation liaison, projects required staffing levels; assists the court executive with budget preparation and monitoring; participates as member of statewide committees, task forces etc. as appropriate. Directs staff training and skill development programs; performs other related administrative and management duties as assigned. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in the behavioral sciences or related field plus six years of experience as a juvenile probation officer or working with delinquent youth. A Master’s degree in judicial, public, or business administration or directly related field may be substituted for two years of experience. Salary: $22.36-$25.61 per hour. (2008)

COURT EXECUTIVE 1B (ASSISTANT VICINAGE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER): Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage. Summary: Essex Vicinage is seeking an innovative self-starter who wants to make a difference. Duties: Under the general direction of the Court Executive 2B (Vicinage Chief Probation Officer), the selected individual will interact with all levels of management and participate in departmental meetings, partnership meetings and on task forces. The selected individual will also evaluate the performance of staff; mentor/coach staff, provide direction and feedback; participate in team or work unit meetings; suggest improvements in work unit operation; recommend changes to organizational structure or work processes; recommend personnel actions (such as hiring, firing, promoting, disciplining or demoting); assign workload/specific duties to staff or team members; conduct formal work performance evaluations with staff or team members; conduct formal work performance evaluations with staff or team members; consult with judges, attorneys or law clerks for litigants with regard to special problems or pending cases and evaluate case management systems to offer suggestions or solutions to existing problems. Demonstrated supervisory experience in a union environment, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse constituents are helpful. Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree. Three years of increasingly responsible administrative experience, one of which shall have included experience in planning, organizing and coordinating program or case related activities. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute paraprofessional and professional experience on a year-for-year basis. A Master’s degree may be substituted for one year of general experience as indicated above. A law degree may be substituted for two years of general experience as indicated above. Salary: $64,245.54 - $95,832. (2007)

CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER: The Juvenile Probation Department, Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. Summary: The position directs the day-to-day operations of the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department and its provision of diversion, probation, detention, and other delinquency related services. This position works under the general policy direction of the Presiding Judge and Juvenile Court Presiding Judge, and the immediate supervision of the Trial Courts Administrator. Duties: The principal responsibilities of the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer include: Developing and implementing departmental policies and procedures for the provision of services; Reviewing programs, services and functions of the agency to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, cost justification and their adherence to policy; Providing direction for the development of casework staff and the training of potential managers; Preparing and administering department budget; Conferring with Judges, community leaders, government officials and interested groups and organizations on the problems of delinquency and delinquency prevention; Analyzing legislation, statutes and court rulings and recommending changes in policies and procedures as required; Addressing governmental bodies, legislative hearing committees, public organizations and community groups; Directing the planning and implementation for future programs and agency goals; Directing changes in the organization structure to adapt to the changing environment. Qualifications: The ideal candidate must possess the minimum of a Master’s Degree in business, management, the social sciences, or a related field from an academically accredited college or university and ten years of experience in the fields of corrections or probation, or working with offenders or delinquents in some equivalent capacity with at least five years of progressively increasing responsibility in an administrative and supervisory capacity. Salary: $100,000-$120,000. (2006)

COURT EXECUTIVE 2B – VICINAGE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER: Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage, Probation Division. Summary: The Camden Vicinage is seeking a progressive, visionary and visible leader to manage its Probation Division. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing the Adult, Juvenile and Child Support units within the division. This dynamic individual will oversee all post-disposition activities, including monitoring and enforcing court orders, collecting fines, restitution and child support, and supervising individuals as directed by the court. The incumbent will work closely with other divisions to ensure that efforts are coordinated and orders are implemented. Additional duties include preparation of the division’s budget; monitoring staffing levels; evaluating division and staff performance; resolving grievances and disciplinary matters; formulating and directing the implementation of Judiciary plans, programs, and procedures; and managing Judiciary resources. Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree. Five years of professional administrative and/or program management experience, three of which shall have included responsibility for program development and/or implementation and for supervision of staff. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute experience on a year-for-year basis. A master’s degree may be substituted for one year of experience as indicated above. A law degree may be substituted for two years of experience as indicated above. Salary: $72,042.60 - $102,403.41. (2005)

CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER: Superior Court of Arizona, Mohave County. Duties: At-will position appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the presiding superior court judge. Position is responsible for planning, developing, organizing and directing the activities and staff of the adult and juvenile probation department, currently comprised of 122 staff in four branch offices and a juvenile detention facility. Qualifications: Requires a Master’s degree in business, management, the social sciences or a related field degree from an accredited college or university, ten years experience in the fields of corrections or probation, or working with offenders or delinquents in some equivalent capacity, with at least five years of progressively increasing responsibility in an administrative and supervisory capacity. The successful candidate will be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the U.S. or have legal resident status, and will be required to undergo a polygraph, psychological and criminal background check. Salary: $2,420 - $3,540 bi-weekly. (2005)

CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER: (General Description) Summary: Under general direction, manages probation and intake operations within a region or functional division of a large urban juvenile or adult court district. Oversees development, implementation and evaluation of services and programs. Duties: Provides leadership and directs the probation/intake operation. Monitors staff performance; oversees the evaluation process; makes personnel action recommendations; assesses the effectiveness of existing programs and services and identifies additional service needs; makes recommendations regarding staffing, technology, equipment, and financial resources required to implement proposed programs; maintains statistical records and prepares statistical reports; secures program funding from budget and grant sources; participates in statewide program development efforts; coordinates interagency programs and represents the court in community and interagency relations. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences, criminal justice or related field and six years as a probation officer. Master's degree in judicial or public administration or directly related field may be substituted for two years of experience. Supervisory/leadership experience is also required.

CHIEF ADULT PROBATION OFFICER: Arizona Superior Court in Cochise County. Summary: Under administrative direction of presiding judge and court administrator, performs work of considerable difficulty in planning, developing organizing and directing the activities of the adult probation department, currently comprised of 48 person staff and four branch offices. Performs related work as required or assigned. Duties: Develops and implements departmental policies and programs; prepares and monitors departmental budgets; maintains contact with the Arizona Supreme Court, presiding judge and court administrator; recommends the appointment of department staff to the presiding judge, reviews and directs changes in the department; reviews programs, services, and functions of the department to determine effectiveness, efficiency and adherence to policy and law; address governmental bodies, legislative committees, public community organizations. Knowledge: Principles of administration, personnel, budgeting, supervision and staff development and evaluation; Principles and practices of social and correctional case management regarding adult offenders; Federal, state, and local statutes, laws, regulations and rules pertaining to the provision of probation services; Psychological, sociological and cultural influences on interpersonal relationship and human behavior; Public sector management and administration; Courtroom protocol and criminal justice system. Ability: Plan, organize, direct multifaceted department; Work under pressure in highly dynamic work environment with changing program demands and priorities; Establish and maintain a professional leadership role; Supervise professional, administrative, and support staff; Analyze administrative problems and issues and adopt effective solutions; Establish and maintain effective working relationships; Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing with persons of diverse backgrounds. Qualifications: Master's degree from an accredited college or university, in a behavioral science, social work or public administration. Ten years of increasingly responsible experience in the field(s) of probation, community corrections, law enforcement or human services casework, with at least five years of progressively increasing responsibility in a management or administrative capacity or any combination of academic education, professional training or work experience which demonstrates the potential to perform the duties of this position. Must obtain and maintain a valid Arizona driver's license. Applicants must submit to criminal history back ground check and fingerprinting. Pursuant to A.R.S. 12-251, position serves at the appointment and pleasure of the superior court presiding judge. This position is unclassified, FLSA exempt. Salary: 72,063 plus a competitive benefits package. (2004)

PROBATION DIRECTOR III: Broome County, New York. Summary: Responsible for planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the activities of a probation agency having a professional staff or between 36 and 70 probation officers at various levels and a sizeable clerical and administrative staff. A Probation Director III is responsible for providing and maintaining effective probation services in accordance with established laws and regulations and receives general supervision an assistance from the State Division of Probation. Duties: Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the probation agency. Controls the work of the agency through direction of administrative and supervisory personnel and review of their performance. Conducts staff meetings to discuss overall program and plan more effective and efficient operating methods. Develops and maintains cooperative working relationship with courts, attorneys, police, educational and social agencies, and other concerned with the activities of the agency. Plans and directs training activities for professional and non-professional staff. Speaks to various groups in the community about the work of the agency and in a variety of ways disseminates information to the public. Directs formulation and implementation of agency policies and procedures. Develops and oversees implementation of administrative processes for intake, investigation, report preparation, case record-keeping, probation supervision, and declaration of delinquency. Administers the maintenance of clerical and financial records and the preparation of budgets and reports. Abilities/Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of modern management principles and practices. Comprehensive knowledge principles underlying human behavior, growth and development. Comprehensive knowledge of investigative, interviewing, case recording and report preparation techniques as applied to probation work. Comprehensive knowledge of current trends and developments in the fields of probation and correction. Comprehensive knowledge of functions and procedures. Comprehensive knowledge of community organization principles and practices. Ability to operate at a high administrative level in overseeing varied aspects of managing an independent professional unit of government. Ability to establish and maintain effective public relations. Emotional maturity. High degree of resourcefulness and initiative. Qualifications: Graduation for a New York State registered or regionally accredited four year college or university with a bachelor's degree and five years of managerial experience. Managerial experience shall include either: Positions having direct responsibility for 25 or more professional employees or positions providing comprehensive management related services to probation agencies, including the activities of budgetary review and analysis, organizational diagnosis, agency performance assessment, program plan analysis and staff development programming. Three years of the experience must have been within a probation agency. Completion of all requirements for a graduate degree in public administration, management, probation studies, criminal justice or a related field may be substituted for one year of the above managerial experience. Special Requirement: Incumbents in this position are required by the County Legislature to reside within the County of Broome at all times during their employment in the title. (2004)

Archived Probation Positions 1992-1999

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