Probation Specialist - Throughout Riverside County (Finance)
The Riverside County Probation Department seeks to fill multiple Probation Specialist positions located throughout Riverside County. This posting has immediate openings in Riverside, Murrieta, and Indio, however, the list may be used for future vacancies throughout Riverside County. The incumbent will be responsible to perform the more complex, non-sworn support functions for Deputy Probation Officers; to conduct evaluative and advisory services for clients and to perform other related duties as required. Competitive candidates will possess prior experience working in a law enforcement and/or court agency, experience in CLETS and Judicial Access, as well as being knowledgeable in Inter County transfers pursuant to 1203.9 of CA. penal code, A.B 109 related duties, and (COMPAS) assessment.
The Probation Specialist is the advanced working level classification and reports to a supervisory level position. Incumbents perform the more complex support services to relieve Deputy Probation Officers of the non-sworn probationary duties. Positions in this class are allocated to the court, the Home Supervision Program, Pretrial Services, or other specialized programs. Incumbents work with minimal supervision with a high level of accountability, organizational ability and problem-solving skills. The Probation Specialist is responsible for significant interaction with clients to conduct general inquiries, provide information and follow-up as needed, represent the Probation Department in court and provide programming. Incumbents monitor, assess, evaluate and provide updates to the Probation Officer regarding client compliance with conditions of probation, community supervision, or conditions of release pending court disposition.
The Probation Specialist is distinguished from the Probation Assistant in that the latter performs a variety of routine, non-sworn support duties with less direct client contact. The Probation Specialist is further distinguished from the Probation Corrections Officer series in that the latter supervises, controls detainees, and provides case evaluation and counseling. Probation Specialists are distinguished from the Deputy Probation Officer series in that the latter are sworn officers who make arrests, conduct searches and perform independent comprehensive case evaluations and investigations.
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Probation Department is a progressive criminal justice agency that believes in continuous improvement, searching and applying evidence-based and best practices, using measurable outcomes to evaluate programs, and doing our utmost to fulfill our mission and make Riverside County a safe and law-abiding community for its citizens. We recognize the value of a qualified, professional, dynamic, and diverse workforce and in building an organization that reflects the progressive community we serve.• Serve as liaison to collateral agencies, including but not limited to the courts, schools, social services, mental health, other treatment providers and local law enforcement agencies; initiate and maintain contact with clients by telephone, program visits, office and virtual interviews, and school and home visits; interview clients to obtain factual information required for the preparation of court reports, advise clients of available services and provide assistance in obtaining appropriate services; instruct and review documents regarding procedures with clients and family members and refer complex questions to Probation Officers; refer clients to psychological, health, medical, and social services providers.
• Monitor and transport non-custody probationers and family members as appropriate to school or various appointments; assist in transporting in-custody detainees; supervise the conduct and behavior of detainees and maintain necessary order and discipline during transport.
• Assist the Probation Officer in updating program materials and information for classes and treatment programs; conduct a variety of in-person or virtual educational classes or programming; monitor classroom conduct; provide guidance and encouragement to maintain appropriate behavior, attitudes and relationships with peers, family members, and school personnel.
• Monitor and evaluate client progress and adherence to court orders or established agreements and provide verbal and written reports to Probation Officers; log appropriate case related information, such as contacts, services provided, and resources used.
• Represent the Probation Department in court as a department liaison or witness to drug test results and the chain of evidence and/or in support of the Probation Officer's recommendations; assist the court by processing post-court referrals to programs; refer clients to services; enroll them in programs; prepare related data for reports.
• Assess the risks and needs of clients upon sentencing or adjudication, release from custody, treatment or placement, or at the direction of a Deputy Probation Officer; research local resources to assist clients in locating employment, housing and community services to help maintain them successfully within the community. OPTION I
Education: Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, preferably with course work in social or behavioral sciences, or business/public administration.
Experience: Three years of public contact experience in a public agency which included significant interaction with clients to obtain basic information, explain rules and procedures and advise and aid clients in obtaining appropriate services.
OPTION II
Experience: Four years of public contact experience in a public agency which included significant interaction with clients to obtain basic information, explain rules and procedures and advise and aid clients in obtaining appropriate services.
OPTION III
Experience: Two years as a County of Riverside Probation Assistant.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: General functions of the probation department; cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns and attitudes toward community services; principles of interviewing and problem- solving methods; correct grammar, spelling and punctuation; office procedures, including preparing correspondence; filing, indexing and cross-referencing methods; principles, methods and equipment used in law enforcement information processing.
Ability to: Work effectively with a wide variety of agencies and organizations; communicate and maintain effective relations with a wide range of social and ethnic groups, and representatives of collateral agencies; accurately gather, document and correctly evaluate client conduct and adherence to rules of established agreements; interview and evaluate clients and recognize significant factors pertaining to their probation; interpret department procedures for clients; communicate effectively orally and in writing; accurately document information using a variety of interview and evaluate clients and recognize significant factors pertaining to their probation; interpret department procedures for clients; computer-based systems; establish priorities and meet deadlines.
Other Requirements:
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
Completion of first aid, CPR, county mandated, and in-service training may be required for some positions.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT:
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and an extensive criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment.)
PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veteran's Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here .
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/ .
What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants. Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Probation Department may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
Upload a copy of your degree or transcripts as an attachment to your Government Jobs account at the time of application. Competitive experience/education must be reflected on your application/resume.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County. Based on the number of applications received, this posting may close without notice.
For more information regarding the position, please contact the recruiter Joe Olivares at (951) 955-9555 or via email at jomendoz@rivco.org.
