Misdemeanor Probation Officer

at Ada County Sheriff's Office in Boise, Idaho, United States

Job Description

General Summary

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A Misdemeanor Probation Officer supervises a caseload of misdemeanor probationers and enforces compliance with court orders. Work includes facilitating risk and needs assessments and subsequently referring probationers to appropriate treatment providers and community-based resources. This position is granted a wide latitude of decision-making subject to Federal, State, and County laws and departmental guidelines and policy.  Provides court testimony and updates, to include sentencing recommendations.  Work involves communication with occasionally hostile or confrontational clients or family members.  Advanced de-escalation and effective listening skills are required. The principal duties of this position are performed in a work environment in which the employee is subject to potential personal danger.   This position is located in the Ada County Sheriff's Office, Court Services Bureau.

Distinguishing Features Of The Class:

Performs complex and varied work under general direction of the Misdemeanor Probation Supervisor and Manager.  Must obtain and maintain the Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certification for probation officers.  Provides court-ordered supervision for adult probationers that have been convicted of a criminal offense(s).

Essential Functions

• Manages misdemeanor caseloads of 80-200 individuals; 
• Meets with individuals sentenced to supervised probation on a regular basis and coordinates with stakeholders to monitor and assess compliance with court orders;
• Conducts risk and needs assessments with probationers and develops and oversees case plans;
• Conducts detailed investigations of client social history including physical environment, family and peer relationships, employment, finances, emotional history, etc.; 
• Conducts and directs legal searches of offenders’ person, automobile, residence and any personal property under their control;
• Conducts field visits in uncontrolled environments requiring continual risk assessment, mitigation, and response to ensure safe conditions;
• Prepares referrals for mental health, counseling, substance abuse, or other evaluations and treatments and monitors attendance and progress;
• Interprets and evaluates psychological, psychiatric, psycho-sexual, domestic violence, and substance use disorder evaluations for decision-making and referrals;
• Monitors and deciphers electronic monitoring results; 
• Reviews monthly or other periodic reports from treatment providers and takes appropriate disciplinary actions as necessary;
• Holds offenders accountable for any violations by imposing sanctions and/or filing probation violations;
• Orders and facilitates taking probationers into custody;
• Monitors court dockets and calendars and runs record checks;
• Writes court reports, affidavits, progress reports, and other court-related documents;
• Appears in court and presents recommendations and/or testimony;
• Performs, schedules, and interprets random drug or alcohol testing on individual probationers; 
• Documents and maintains records and case files of all contacts with probationers;
• Establishes and maintains contacts with key individuals involved in the cases and case compliance, i.e., detectives, school resource officers, school officials, attorneys, judges, parents, spouses, coworkers, counselors, victims etc.;
• Facilitates transfer of supervision to other jurisdictions including Interstate Compact;
• Monitors cost of supervision, restitution and fine payment schedules and develops plans to ensure compliance; 
• Performs related duties as required.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• The work is performed around offenders and involves an element of personal danger; 

• Work is performed both in an office and field environment;
• The incumbent will be required to work flexible schedules, which may include work on some weekends, evenings, nights and/or holidays;
• Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, to permit the employee to function in a general office environment;
• Must be able to physically respond and intervene to emergency and hostile situations in the field and office - works daily with potentially volatile, intoxicated, or aggressive offenders;
• Requires the ability to participate and pass defensive tactics as required by POST;
• Ability to participate in ongoing defensive tactics training;
• Must be able to perform defensive maneuvers, maintain balance, and react quickly to unpredictable movements;
• Requires acute visual and auditory acuity for monitoring people, environments, and activities;
• Requires the ability to observe and handle materials safely and carefully, including physically manipulating and inspecting objects;
• Requires bending, reaching, and crouching to conduct searches in various environments;
• Requires strength and endurance to prevent physical confrontations, using verbal and non-verbal cues to de-escalate tensions;
• May be required to lift up to 20 lbs;
• This position involves exposure to potentially hazardous materials, airborne pathogens, blood, blood borne pathogens, bodily fluids, and goods or substances that may be deemed harmful;
• This position interacts with individuals dealing with sensitive and often challenging situations; incumbent must demonstrate strong emotional resilience and composure to ensure the safety and well-being of self and others;

• The incumbent must operate a county vehicle and travel throughout the county. 

DISCLAIMER:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the primary job responsibilities satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of individuals in the job. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. Ada County provides Veteran's Preference for all County jobs except for those deemed "key positions" in accordance with Title 65, Chapter 5 of Idaho Code.