PROBATION ASSISTANT (SPANISH SPEAKING) 6502
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
Under general supervision, an employee in this class performs para-professional
probation casework and is not a Peace Officer pursuant to the NYS Criminal
Procedure Law. The position requires the use of Spanish language communication
skills to assist Probation Officers in working with clients, probationers and
their families who are Spanish speaking. Other than this additional
responsibility, the position is equivalent to a Probation Assistant title. The
incumbent is responsible for assisting Probation Officers in the performance of
tasks which may include pre-dispositional/pre-trial interviews and screening;
making recommendations for suitability for pre-trial release; opening and
closing cases; monitoring individuals with pending cases; and notifying courts
of case status. An incumbent may assist in the control and supervision of
probationers by processing inter and intra-state transfers; serving as the
department’s point of contact for transfer of records and files with other
probation departments, law enforcement agencies or courts; delivering documents
to law enforcement agencies and the courts; and assisting with the collection
of financial obligations. An incumbent may perform such tasks for a number of
Probation Officers or as a member of a group program. Work is supervised by a
Supervising Probation Officer or higher level probation professional through
frequent consultations and review of work performed. Does related work as
required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Acts
as an interpreter for Spanish speaking clients in Intake, Investigation and
Supervision services;
Interviews,
in Spanish or English, individuals in custody of a law enforcement agency to
assess their suitability for release from detention pending trial, monitors status of individuals relapsed and
notifies courts of their status;
Assists
in gathering information for probation personnel from a variety of sources,
including public and private social agencies, law enforcement agencies, courts,
employers, etc.;
Supports
the department’s involvement with specialty courts which may include gathering
information; conducting drug/alcohol screenings; contacting victims, law
enforcement or human service agencies, treatment providers and other involved
parties; and in verification of social and legal history data pertaining to
individuals serviced by the department;
Assists
individuals serviced by the probation agency in completing questionnaires,
family court petition forms and other documents requiring written information,
and by answering general questions;
Assists in
establishing or maintaining contact with persons or organizations in the
community that may provide necessary resources for individuals serviced by the
agency;
Assists in the more
routine interviews of probation clients to ascertain conduct and progress of
probationers and/or to resolve probationers' problems relating to housing,
health care, employment, family support or other essential matters;
May provide
employment preparedness assessments and related training and assistance;
Registers and
updates case data; conducts record checks through local, state and federal
databases; and produces reports;
Gathers and
verifies data for the preparation of memorandums, correspondence, transfer
orders, discharge letters and other documents;
May perform drug
and alcohol screenings and collect DNA samples.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Good knowledge of pre-trial court procedures; good
knowledge of interviewing methods necessary to determine suitability for
pre-trial release from detention; good knowledge of tools used to monitor compliance
with conditions of probation, such as drug and alcohol screening, DNA
collection and electronic monitoring devices; good knowledge of the geography
of the jurisdiction employed in; working knowledge of laws pertaining to
probation work and functions and procedures of family and criminal courts;
working knowledge of the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and policies relating to confidentiality
of case record information; working knowledge of special offender populations
such as domestic violence offenders, sex offenders, DWI offenders, youthful
offenders, juvenile offenders, Persons in Need of Supervision and juvenile delinquents;
working knowledge of juvenile and adult risk and needs assessment instruments;
working knowledge of factors related to crime and delinquency; working
knowledge of the rules of evidence, arrest laws and custody procedures; working
knowledge of community resources; working knowledge of employment, training and
treatment options available to probationers; working knowledge of office
terminology, procedures, equipment and business English; ability to interview
detainees in Spanish and English and assess their suitability for pre-trial
release; ability to review and explain conditions of probation in Spanish and
English to a probationer; ability to effectively communicate in Spanish as
required; ability to gather and
organize information related to the work performed;
ability keep routine records; ability to administer drug, alcohol testing and
collect DNA samples as needed; ability to establish and maintain effective
working relationships with others; ability to understand and follow oral and
written instructions; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in
writing; ability to understand and empathize with the needs and concerns of
others; ability to maintain composure and make rational judgments under
stressful conditions; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the
position.
OPEN
COMPETITIVE
Either:
a)
Graduation from a college with federally authorized accreditation or
registration by New York State with an Associate's Degree or higher in criminal
justice, human services, chemical dependency counseling, business
administration, or a closely related field; or,
b)
Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school
equivalency diploma, and two (2) years of experience working with the public in
a public or private human services agency or a criminal justice or juvenile
justice agency; or,
c)
An equivalent combination of education and experience as defined by the limits
of a) and b).
Candidate
must successfully pass a qualifying medical and psychological evaluation
authorized by the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service.
At
the time of appointment and during employment in this title, candidates are
required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York.
There
will be a qualifying Spanish language examination.
R 05/28/2019
SUFFOLK COUNTY
Competitive