Juvenile Services Field Officer

SALARY : $47,000 / year

JOB TITLE : Field Probation Officer

DEPARTMENT : Juvenile Services

SUMMARY : The purpose of this position is to supervise youth placed on formal (court-ordered) and informal (deferred prosecution) supervision to ensure the compliance of required conditions. This is accomplished by assessing probationers, meeting with them to ensure adherence to terms of probation and maintaining records of probationers' activities and status.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

Processes and formalizes new referrals received for juveniles on probation; writes and administers juvenile case plans in accordance with Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards.

• In accordance with TJJD standards, discusses with juveniles and parents and documents progress towards meeting case plan goals each month.
• Administers the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI); completes Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT) full assessments and updates the PACT on a monthly basis to track recidivism and measure effectiveness of programs.
• Completes the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT) and reports results in accordance with Department Policy & Procedures.
• Administers the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventories (SASSI) tool if appropriate and utilizes results to determine the need for a more comprehensive chemical assessment; makes referrals for subsequent assessments.
• Ensures all new offenses (felonies, weapons, assault, etc.) and other possible causes for prosecution are referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration in accordance with department policies; completes Prosecution Referral Worksheets.
• Completes staffing worksheets; provides recommendations for disposition of pending referrals and provides supporting documentation; implements approved recommendations.
• Maintains consistency with department policy which assists in monitoring the juveniles at home, office, school or during other visits; communicates with juvenile via telephone and conducts parent conferences.
• Ensures juveniles comply with court-ordered or deferred prosecution conditions of probation and completes required community service, counseling programs and substance abuse counseling, if deemed necessary.
• Refers juveniles for participation in the various rehabilitative programs offered by the Juvenile Services Department such as Outdoor Adventure Therapy, Junior Master Gardener's Program and college campus tours; accompanies juveniles to campouts and other activities.
• Oversees implementation and effective management of electronic monitoring services for juveniles as directed; monitors juveniles by conducting random drug testing (urinalysis) each month; follows chain of custody procedures prior to mailing specimens to the laboratory for further analysis and confirmations needed for prosecution.
• Supervises and ensures enrollment of juveniles in local schools; assists juveniles age sixteen (16) and older and not attending school in enrollment in one or more of the following : GED Program, vocational training and / or assists with locating employment.
• Arranges appropriate and Board approved community service projects; provides direct supervision of juveniles while completing community service projects; ensures juveniles who are suspended or expelled from school are performing community service restitution during school hours.
• Maintains curfew surveillance through evening home visits and / or telephone contact.
• Reinforces payment agreements for court-ordered restitution with juveniles and families; requests filing of charges against probationers and parents through the District Attorney's office for non-payment of restitution.
• Works closely with Sex Offender Treatment Providers; schedules polygraphs and diligently responds to findings.
• Refers juveniles in need of placement outside their home to the department's designated placement officer; provides placement officer with documents needed for consideration and approval with TJJD standards.
• Monitors juveniles under interim supervision from other counties; completes case plans no later than thirty (30) calendar days from date of first official intake meeting with juvenile and parent if previous County is not required or fails to provide one.
• Supervises juvenile under probation conditions imposed by the sending county or state and provides similar services offered in Rockwall County; Provides Sending County with progress reports at least once every ninety (90) calendar days during the period of interim supervision or supervision through Interstate Compact on Juveniles (ICJ).
• Ensures proper processing of Orders to Transfer Permanent Supervision from sending County to Rockwall County; properly files order (petition, order of adjudication, order of disposition and probation conditions) with the Rockwall County District Clerk's Office.
• Enters an Agreed Permanent Supervision Probation Order or requests a hearing in order to impose new or different conditions of probation.
• Promptly investigates juvenile probation violations; reports and addresses violations in accordance with the departments Notification of Change form within two (2) working days; using supervisor approved intermediate sanctions, schedules Administrative Hearings with a supervisor to address probation violations when intermediate sanctions have not been effective; works with supervisor to determine if a Directive to Resume Supervision of a Child order is warranted.
• Considers taking juveniles into custody for court-order probation violations when warranted; obtains a Directive to Apprehend for runaways or juveniles who have absconded from the jurisdiction of the court for more than 72 hours.
• Schedules and completes Social History interviews with juveniles and parents when deferred prosecution cases are unsuccessful; requests filing of an Adjudication Petition through the District Attorney's Office when juveniles fail to comply with terms of Deferred Prosecution Agreements; oversees cases throughout court process until disposition.
• Develops relationships with school administration to improve juveniles' school attendance and classroom behavior; works with schools to serve learning disabled and special education students.
• Visits schools and meets with principals on a monthly basis; attends Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) School and disciplinary meetings as appropriate or upon request; provides lists of students on court-ordered juvenile probation to school administrators; provides proper notifications to schools in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.27- "Notification to Schools Required."
• Conducts home visits each month for juveniles on probation and home studies for pending cases as needed.
• Oversees juveniles who are placed in the detention center; ensures all prescribed medications are filled and provided to detention center staff; provides or arranges for transportation of juveniles to doctor appointments and court hearings; monitors number of days juveniles are detained and schedules detention hearings in accordance with the law; provides on-going detention supervision for continued appropriateness of detention.
• Assists the District Attorney's office in facilitating the timely filing of adjudication petitions and requests for summons in order to serve juveniles by the first 10-day Detention / Announcement Hearing if continued detention is recommended.
• Assists parents with obtaining a court-appointed attorney if needed; prepares documentation for court; appears in court and testifies with appropriate documents and accurate information.
• Properly maintains probation files on a weekly basis; maintains updates and ensures accurate data in the juvenile case management system (JCMS) files for all juveniles; enters weekly chronological notes into the JCMS within five (5) business days.
• Prepares and submits written documents; social history reports; home evaluations; interim supervision / interstate compact on juveniles; quarterly progress reports; detention hearing worksheets; court orders and conditions of probation; petitions; directives to apprehend; requests for summons, etc.
• Serves summons both at the office and other locations such as children's residences, schools, parents place of employment, etc.
• Utilizes the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Juvenile Justice Information System to report completion of Deferred Prosecution or Court-Ordered Probation as well as subsequent referrals to the District Attorney's office for prosecutions and modifications or non-judicial dispositional outcomes; submits closed cases to deputy director for review within (5) days of expired probation.
• Reports activities of all juveniles to Chief Administration Officer; properly reports child abuse, neglect and exploitation in accordance with State law and TJJD standards.
• Develops and maintains rapport with juveniles and parents to construct a positive home environment; develops and maintains proper contacts with juvenile department's counseling staff and contract providers; refers juveniles and families for assessments; programs or counseling services in accordance with needs; monitors and responds to problems regarding attendance and participation in counseling.
• Consults and coordinates with other agencies; maintains and develops proper contacts with community resources to refer juveniles and families to appropriate agencies.
• Presents information to civic groups and schools as requested and approved by administration; promptly responds to inquiries; completes required training courses in order to maintain Juvenile Probation Officer Certification.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY / BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES :

This position has no supervisory responsibility; and does not contribute to the budget.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

WORKING CONDITIONS :

Position is located in an office environment with occasional exposure to environmental conditions. Health and safety hazards are low. No protective equipment is required. Fine dexterity, sitting, hearing, talking and vision are constantly required. Occasional standing and walking are required. Primary exposure would be from urinalysis screening utilizing rubber gloves.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT :