Probation Technician

About the Opportunity

Typical Tasks

• Interviews adult and youth offenders in order to obtain factual information required for the preparation and administration of evidence-based risk/needs assessments, court reports, case planning and/or to determine eligibility for participation in specialized probation programs;
• Monitors probationers on a bank or mail-in caseload and alerts Probation Officers to anomalies;
• Monitor control room in juvenile detention setting; monitors cameras; opens and closes doors and sally ports; calls for backup when indicated;
• May conduct intake on juveniles prior to booking or release;
• Initiates and maintains contact with offenders and monitors offender performance while on probation or in custody; verify youth attendance at school; verify compliance with counseling orders, curfew, and payment of fines, restitution and other court ordered costs;
• Interprets and explains court orders, applicable laws, rules and regulations, and procedures governing the criminal justice system; determines restitution; advises and assists offenders in obtaining appropriate services, and refers to psychological, health, medical, and social services care providers;
• Administers drug and alcohol tests to offenders according to established procedures and guidelines; performs deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) collection; and completes fingerprinting;
• Performs deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) collection and completes fingerprinting;
• Utilizes multiple local, state and federal confidential databases to access offender information;
• Prepares reports, legal documents, memoranda and correspondence; compiles, maintains, and prepares contract and statistical data records;
• Compiles, maintains, and prepares contract and statistical data records;
• Orients offenders for home confinement or electronic monitoring program; installs Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and monitors offenders; inputs data and tracks for compliance;
• Attends specialized training as directed;
• May act as a liaison between the department and law enforcement, courts, and community agencies;
• May translate as required to serve departmental needs. Translating may be in oral or written form;
• May transport individuals who are not in-custody;
• May provide training to lower-level staff;
• May assist in posting information to social media sites for purposes of educating the public and enhancing recruiting efforts;
• May audit evidence-based risk/needs assessments to ensure fidelity and accuracy;
• May deliver evidence-based programming to offenders in detention settings; and
• May be assigned special projects as directed.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

• Federal, state and local criminal justice laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing probation work;
• Federal, state and local judicial procedures;
• Departmental practices, rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Criminal justice and legal terminology;
• Fundamental aspects of human behavior;
• Interviewing techniques;
• Public and private community resources, care providers and agencies;
• Interviewing and information gathering methods and techniques;
• Report writing principles including rules of correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure;
• Principles and practices of record keeping;
• Standard office applications, including computer software usage and automated office equipment;
• Organizational and time management methods.

• Understand, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing probation work;
• Maintain a working understanding of federal, state and local judicial proceedings;
• Work and communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people of various education, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds by respecting beliefs, interpersonal styles and behaviors of both clients and coworkers; 
• Interview persons to obtain a variety of information and data; 
• Provide guidance and training to lower-level staff;
• Operate modern office equipment including computer hardware, software, and internet and web-based applications;
• Handle sensitive situations and difficult offenders discreetly and effectively;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels, as well as with other agencies and the public;
• Demonstrate and maintain a high degree of initiative, maturity, integrity, and good judgment.

• 40 semester units from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 semester units in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, child development, or closely related field

• One (1) year of experience working with at-promise youth or adult offenders or one (1) year at a level equivalent to Legal Clerk in Stanislaus County. Click here to view specifications for Legal Clerk I. 

• Possession of a valid Class "C" driver's license, or equivalent.

Application and Selection Procedures

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification.  Eligible lists are effective for six months, but may be extended up to eighteen months.