County Probation Officer (#HP1400)
$94.98-$115.44 Hourly / $16,462.45-$20,010.21 Monthly / $197,549.46-$240,122.60 Yearly

Under administrative direction plans, organizes and directs the activities of the County Probation Department; and does other related work as required.

The County Probation Officer implements court directions, receives policy guidance from the presiding judge of the Juvenile Court, and advisory guidance from the Juvenile Justice Commission. The County Probation Officer is responsible for evaluating, planning, organizing and administering a complete probation program, including adult and juvenile probation services and Juvenile Hall operation. Guidance may be received from the County Administrator regarding organizational and budgetary problems. This position is excluded from the San Joaquin County Civil Service System.

• Plans, organizes, evaluates and administers a probation program adapted to current needs of the county.
• Formulates written departmental policy in consultation with the Juvenile Court Judge; informs Superior Court Judges and Juvenile Justice Commission members of department activities and long range plans.
• Confers with judges, the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator on policy matters; maintains cooperative relationships with local, state and federal welfare, law enforcement and correctional agencies and community groups.
• Prepares and evaluates plans to assure adequacy of staff and facilities to meet needs; is responsible for staff development in accordance with the needs of the department.
• Prepares and administers the annual budget; reviews and evaluates the budget estimates and needs of the various divisions with a view to maintaining good fiscal practice maximum economy and provision of effective probation services; presents and justifies the department budget to the Board of Supervisors.
• Initiates and supervises studies to determine the validity of existing probation department methods and procedures; confers with the Juvenile Court Judge, the Juvenile Justice Commission and with other administrative staff in the development of new programs, policies and techniques.
• Maintains active community liaison through such techniques as news releases, public discussions, and contacts with community groups.
• Makes changes in departmental rules, programs and procedures as dictated by new court decision, legislation, or modern probation and administrative practices and keeps informed on current trends in the probation and juvenile field.
• Answers correspondence, prepares reports, and conducts special studies as required.

Education: Graduation from an accredited four year college, preferably with a major in social work, psychology, criminology, or related fields; or graduation from an accredited law school.

Experience: Five years of experience in probation or parole, four years which must have been at a level equivalent to Probation Division Chief in San Joaquin County.

Substitution:  A Master’s Degree from an accredited college in a relevant major may be substituted for one year of the required administrative experience at the Probation Division Chief level.

License:  Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

Principles and practices of juvenile and adult probation; court procedures; the welfare and institutions code relating to probation; penal code; counseling; psychological factors, forces, and trends relating to crime; principles and practices of public administration including organization, management, and supervision; community resources available to assist in delinquency control and prevention; developments in delinquency prevention and rehabilitation of delinquents.

Plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of the department, analyze administrative problems and determine appropriate problem-solving techniques; plan and execute long-range programs; prepare and control budgets; interpret and implement provisions of the law an policies establish by the courts; speak and write effectively; establish and maintain effective working relations with departmental personnel, other agencies, and the community.  Position may require sitting standing, fingering and manual dexterity.