PROBATION
OFFICER
6511
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
This
is the entry-level professional position in the Probation Department responsible
for the control, supervision and care of adults and juveniles subject to
probation supervision, investigation or intake services which require them to
meet certain standards of conduct. The incumbent uses sound professional
judgment and applies investigative techniques to evaluate the conduct of those
subject to court ordered investigation, analyzes data and makes recommendations
regarding court dispositions. The incumbent counsels and coaches probationers
and others receiving probation services to change patterns of thinking and
behavior to help promote and sustain law-abiding relationships with society and
to reduce the likelihood of becoming re-involved in criminal or delinquent
behavior. The employee may arrange for medical, mental health or substance
abuse treatment services. The employee may be assigned to a specialty unit as
an assistant to a Senior Probation Officer, handling less complex assignments
within the unit. Supervision is not a characteristic of this position. The
incumbent is supervised by a higher-ranking probation professional. A Probation
Officer is a Peace Officer pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law Section 2.10 and
may be authorized to carry a firearm in the performance of his/her duties. Does
related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Gathers,
verifies, reviews and analyzes social, medical, mental health, substance abuse,
sex offender, legal and other documentation; interviews defendants/respondents,
victims, law enforcement personnel and other case related individuals to
conduct pre-plea/pre-sentence/pre-dispositional investigations;
Prepares
reports and/or testifies in court regarding persons awaiting disposition of the
courts in regard to the seriousness of the crime committed, the individual’s circumstances
and risk to self and society and the legally permissible dispositional options;
makes recommendations to court, as appropriate, for or against detention, residential placement or
incarceration, as well as the length and conditions of probation; Prepares case/supervision plans and interprets
conditions of probation to probationers;
Supervises and
monitors probationers assigned by the court and assists in their
rehabilitation;
Conducts
risk and need assessments and evaluates results for pre-trial, investigation,
and supervision purposes;
Meets
with probationers, family members, school officials, service providers and
others having contact with probations to help ensure probationers are meeting
terms and conditions of probation, including school attendance and
participation in treatment programs;
Interviews
and screens clients to try to effect a satisfactory adjustment of
family-related problems without resorting to court action;
Counsels
respondents and probationers in an effort to discover and resolve problems;
writes reports and recommendations to superiors regarding the status of such
counseling;
Prepares
violation reports on probationers and testifies at violation hearings;
Establishes
and maintains contact with other social and law enforcement agencies and
cooperates with them in matters of mutual interest;
Helps
to maintain a variety of records used by Probation Officers;
May
assist Senior Probation Officers in a specialty unit by handling less complex
cases;
May
execute arrest warrants, conduct warrantless searches and/or warrantless
arrests;
May
use a firearm in performing duties while exercising authority pursuant to
departmental policy.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS,
ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Good knowledge of
the principles and practices of probation casework, including interviewing,
investigation, counseling, case supervision, record keeping and reporting; good
knowledge of the laws and rules pertaining to probation work and the functions
and procedures of family and criminal courts; good knowledge of special
offender populations such as domestic violence offenders, DWI offenders, sex
offenders, youthful offenders, and others; good knowledge of risk and needs
assessment instruments; good knowledge of community resources; good knowledge
of the factors related to the causes of crime and delinquency; working
knowledge of social sciences, including sociology, psychology and demography;
working knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) regulations and policies relating to confidentiality of case record
information; ability to analyze data gathered through investigation of
probationers; ability to conduct effective case planning and management;
ability to counsel probationers regarding social, emotional and vocational
problems; ability to deal effectively with people who may be under emotional
strain; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in
writing; good judgment; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the
position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPEN
COMPETITIVE
Either:
(a)
One (1) year of
permanent competitive status as a Probation Officer Trainee or Probation
Officer Trainee (Spanish Speaking) in a New York State Probation Agency; or
(b)
Graduation from a college with federally authorized
accreditation or registration by New York State with a Master’s Degree in Social
Work, Social Sciences, Education, Administration, Law, Criminal Justice, or a
related field; or
(c)
Graduation from a college with federally authorized
accreditation or registration by New York State with a Bachelor’s Degree,
including at least thirty (30) credit hours in the social or behavioral
sciences and
two (2) years of experience in counseling,
law enforcement, juvenile or criminal justice, education, or casework in a
probation, law enforcement, juvenile or criminal justice, corrections,
community corrections, parole, social services, mental health, social work or
other public or private human services agency..
NOTE:
Course work at the Master’s degree level in social work, social sciences,
education, administration, law, criminal justice, or a related field may be
substituted for work experience for a maximum of one (1) year of experience.
NOTE: Social
science includes areas of study concerned with humans living in relation to
other humans in a social environment such as anthropology, criminal justice,
economics, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology
NOTE:
Behavioral science is a subset of social science characterized by observation
of the behavior of living organisms and focused on human behavior such as
psychology, sociology, anthropology, counseling, criminal justice, gerontology,
human behavior, social work/social welfare and vocational rehabilitation.
NOTE:
Counseling Experience involves
interviewing individuals and/or families, discussing and evaluating their
problems (e.g. drug and alcohol abuse, family conflicts, disabilities) and
developing and carrying out plans to resolve problems. Those who perform
counseling duties work directly with individuals and/or families on an ongoing
basis in order to assist them and monitor and evaluate their progress.
Law Enforcement Experience involves
providing for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies,
protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws and
promoting good community relations as a member of a regional state park police
or a police force, police department or other organization of a county, city,
town, village, housing authority, transit authority or police district.
Education Experience involves teaching
a curriculum to students or supervising/administering such a curriculum and
those teaching it or experience as a guidance counselor, school or educational
counselor or instructional coordinator/curriculum coordinator in a criminal
justice or juvenile justice setting.
Casework Experience involves
activities directed toward enhancing a client’s ability to cope with and solve
problems and the referral of clients to supporting resources and
services.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
1.
At the time of appointment and during employment in this
title employees must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New
York State.
2.
Candidates must be a United States Citizen at the time of
appointment.
3.
There will be a qualifying psychological evaluation.
4.
There will be a qualifying medical evaluation.
5.
Candidates will be required to successfully complete the
State Requirements of Peace Officer Training and Firearms Training as per New
York State Criminal Procedure Law section 2.3
R 04/01/2024
SUFFOLK COUNTY
Competitive