Probation Officer I

Position Information

Do you have a passion to help and support your community? Begin a rewarding career as a Probation Officer!

Starting salary up to $47.66/hour ( $99,472 /year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Probation Department invites you to watch their video that highlights the work they do within the community we serve:

Probation Full-Length Video (English)

Probation Full-Length Video (Spanish)

Working at the Probation Department

Probation Officers supervise a caseload of adult or juvenile probationers. They investigate, prepare, and present recommendations and reports to the Courts as Probation Department representatives on matters relating to probation cases and/or criminal violations of the law involving adults or juveniles.

As a Probation Officer I, you will learn how to:

• Interview clients, families, and other individuals to identify and evaluate various problems and determine how each case is to be treated
• Conduct one-on-one meetings with clients, refer to appropriate programs, set goals, and assess progress
• Facilitate Cognitive Behavioral therapy groups
• Conduct investigations, collect data, and interpret a variety of information in order to establish facts and draw valid conclusions
• Supervise the conduct of, and perform case management services for, adults and/or juveniles on supervision, diversion, wardship, or pretrial monitoring
• Direct delivery of services/interventions based on the use of evidence-based approaches
• Testify as a witness in court to defend recommendations, and make persuasive and critical presentations of facts, arguments, and rebuttals
• Enforce legal conditions of supervision, diversion, wardship, or pretrial monitoring
• Prepare and complete comprehensive reports to the Court
• Perform field contacts, searches, and arrests
• Work collaboratively, and maintain written and verbal contact with service providers, attorneys, and collateral contacts

Ideal candidates will thrive in a team environment, have knowledge of the criminal and/or juvenile justice system, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and possess:

• Experience writing reports that included information from a variety of sources, as well as presenting oral reports
• Experience conducting interviews and obtaining information
• Experience working with individuals with diverse backgrounds
• The ability to review, comprehend, and implement established policies and procedures
• Some experience utilizing and/or knowledge of evidence-based practices including the concept of accountability in working with adults and juveniles
• Basic computer skills to utilize software such as the Microsoft Office Suite
• English/Spanish bilingual skills are desired, but not required

Note : Individuals selected for this position shall serve a probationary period of one year. In addition, Probation Officers are Peace Officers as defined by Penal Code Section 830.5 and must successfully complete the Board of State and Community Corrections Probation Officer Core Course within one year of appointment. Incumbents must also successfully complete Penal Code 832 training within one year of appointment. Additionally, Probation Officers work non-traditional hours which may include weekend and evening hours.

Effective 5/8/23, individuals who possess United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident alien OR have the legal authorization to work in the United States under federal law, will be considered to meet the citizenship minimum standards for this position.

What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Probation Officer II
• Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - An annual staff development and wellness benefit of $850
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association's Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill full-time Probation Officer I openings. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

The tentative date for the written examination is:
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include possession of a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, counseling, social work, criminology, administration of justice, or a closely related field.
OR
Significant academic course work or formal training in sociology, behavioral and social psychology, social casework, social welfare, counseling and guidance, or a closely related field,

AND

Two years of full-time experience in a position equivalent, or closely related, to Correctional Officer, Social Worker, Substance Abuse Treatment Provider, Deputy Sheriff, Juvenile Correctional Counselor, or Probation Assistant with the County of Sonoma.

Additional Requirements: In accordance with California Government Code, Section 1029 - 1031, and the California Corrections Standards Authority, Title 15, Section 131, Minimum Standards for Selection, each employee shall meet the following minimum standards: United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (if a permanent resident alien has not obtained citizenship within three years after application for employment or is denied citizenship, he/she will be disqualified for peace officer status); have no prior felony conviction nor be under current formal probation supervision; and achieved a passing score on the California Corrections Standards Authority Probation Officer written exam, or equivalent prior to appointment.

Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete an in-depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation, finger printing, criminal history check and a medical examination, including physical agilities testing.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: written and oral communication, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; general community resources necessary to assist in crime and delinquency control; sociology and psychology particularly as they relate to personality development, behavior patterns, motivation, and group and family dynamics; interviewing techniques and investigative procedures; principles of research methodology, report writing and basic statistics; penal, business, health, safety and related codes relating to probation work.

Ability to: learn state and federal code and case law related to probation issues; prepare and present written and oral reports before the court and before adversaries to the court; analyze investigational material and make appropriate deductions and recommendations; establish and maintain personal working relationships with clients, staff, and community agencies and representatives; read and understand written material, including abstracts, and financial, legal and medical documents; exercise initiative, perseverance and patience; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds; apply existing laws, rules and regulations; effectively interview clients to obtain information on a variety of complex and sensitive subjects; physically restrain and/or apprehend offenders in the line of duty.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examinations:

1. An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge and abilities, which relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position.

2. A multiple-choice, scantron written examination (weight 100%), will be conducted to further evaluate each candidate's qualifications as they relate to the position. The written examination will measure the core knowledge, skills and abilities for this position such as:

• Written Communication - Spelling
• Written Communication - Grammar
• Reading Comprehension - Identify a Difference
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding Passages
• Apply Rules - Logical Sequences
• Apply Rules - Appropriate Placement
• Apply Rules - Level of Priority
• Apply Rules - Forms
• Apply Rules - Scenarios
• Basic Math - Addition/Subtraction

Applicants must attain a minimum passing score of at least 70% on the written examination to be placed on the employment list. The minimum passing score may be an adjusted score based on such factors as difficulty of the examination for this group of candidates, natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates, number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, and past practice.

The tentative date for the written examination is:
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

To aid you in preparing for the written examination, the Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer Classifications Booklet may be found at http://www.bscc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/COB.pdf

Important Note regarding Examination T-Score Information for Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer Classifications:

If you have taken the BSCC Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer Classifications within twelve (12) months prior to the date of our exam session, the Sonoma County Human Resources Department will allow candidates to submit their T score in lieu of re-taking the test. POST exam T scores will not be accepted in lieu of this exam. If your previously obtained T Score from a BSCC Selection Examination complies with the above and you wish to use the score in lieu of taking the test, please email a PDF of the "T Score letter" to konmally.kang@sonoma-county.org or mail a paper copy of your letter to:

County of Sonoma Human Resources Department
Attention: Eder Villa Valencia
575 Administration Drive 116B
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

The letter must be on the testing agency's letterhead and include the:

• Name of the exam
• Date the exam was taken
• T score
• Name of the agency that administered the exam

Should you have any questions, please contact Eder Villa Valencia at 707-565-1751.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.

All candidates will be required to take a pre-employment medical examination. The pre-employment medical examination will include drug testing as part of the medical examination for all applicants and for all current employees who are offered employment with the Offices/Departments. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed, and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior, and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JL
HR Technician: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 12/3/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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