Juvenile Probation Officer

Online applications are only accepted for current available positions.

Incomplete applications will be rejected. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application and/or the Work History section.

Any position posted may be closed or extended at any particular time during the advertisement period at the discretion of Comal County.

Grant Funded

*There is an approved $6000 supplement for this position. This supplement is reviewed each budget year and is not guaranteed.

This position requires a thorough knowledge of juvenile behavior the Texas Family Code Title 3 and the Juvenile Probation Commission Standards for Juvenile Probation Officers and mandates the utilization of professional ethics specified in those Standards. The directed mission of the juvenile probation officer is to provide for the care the protection and the wholesome morale and physical development of the juvenile client to protect the welfare of the community and to control the commission of unlawful acts by the juvenile client per Section 51.01 of the Texas Family Code. The juvenile probation officer must protect the rights of the juvenile client and will treat the client with respect and dignity offering all services and treatment fairly and impartially. The Juvenile Probation Officer position is responsible for the supervision and management of juveniles referred to the Department as described in Title 3 of the Texas Family Code under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and other designated employees.

EXPIRATION

This position is grant funded. Should the grant funds be terminated or expire without renewal or an alternative to the grant funds are not available this position will terminate.

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Duties include the following:

• Carry out the orders of the Juvenile Court. Follow all verbal and written policies and procedures legally implemented by the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for the professional and ethical operation of the Department.
• Participate in ascertaining planning and evaluating preventing intervention and treatment program needs for the juvenile offenders in Comal County.
• Prepare formal reports for funding purposes and accountability reports to administrative boards including monthly reports to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
• Maintain working relationships with other local/state juvenile probation system and related agencies institutions and personnel who serve and assist the youth including schools treatment providers and organizations law enforcement corrections and the courts.
• Must maintain Juvenile Probation Officer Certification including a minimum of 80 hours of Texas Juvenile Justice Department approved training each year and to stay informed on relevant new developments and techniques in the criminal justice field.
• Participate in Departmental or community wide conferences as needed to discuss juvenile/client issues and concerns to provide relevant and appropriate information counsel and guidance.
• To be available for educational presentations for the schools; churches civic and governmental organizations.
• Subject to rotational 24-hour on-call duty as needed per Departmental Policy.
• To participate in all Comal County Juvenile Court proceedings as needed.
• Attendance is an essential function of the job.

Case Management Responsibilities:

Manage a caseload of approximately 40 clients (an average officer caseload) placed on formal probation or informal adjustment as needed and abide by the following individual case management and referral responsibilities.

• Referrals: Accept referrals and or acknowledge concerns from parents law enforcement victims schools and other local and state agencies. Refer cases to law enforcement agencies when appropriate for investigations. Serve as a referral source for the multi-disciplinary needs of the client/family.
• Intake: Conduct a preliminary investigation upon a referral of a juvenile to the Department in accordance with Section 53.01 of the Texas Family Code. Advise the juvenile and the parents of the alleged offense and possible consequences. Compile statistical information from the clients. Ascertain relevant issues surrounding the client and the circumstances of the offense and provide counsel regarding possible options to address those issues. Staff the case with the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and/or the prosecuting attorneys office for recommendations for further proceedings.
• Detention: Make a determination whether to detain or release the juvenile offender in accordance with Section 53.02 of the Texas Family Code. If detained per order of the court arrange for transportation of the juvenile to an appropriate juvenile detention center. Make all arrangements for the initial and subsequent detention hearings in compliance with Section 54.01 of the Texas Family code. Provide evidence relevant to detention issues to the court through oral and written testimony. Supervise juveniles released from detention on court ordered conditions pending further court proceedings and notify the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer the prosecutor and the Court of their non-compliance.
• Pending Adjudication: Explain the adjudication process to the juvenile/family. Refer the case to the Comal county Attorney per departmental policy. Identify and secure victim impact statements. Conduct a complete social history on the juvenile offender through interviews with the juvenile and relevant family members school officials and law enforcement and with any other appropriate individuals or agencies and written documentation per departmental policy. Prepare a predisposition report to be delivered to the presiding judge following adjudication per Section 54.04 of the Texas Family code and departmental policy.
• Probation: Provide a copy of the Disposition order to the juvenile/parent(s) and review the conditions of probation with the juvenile/parent(s) immediately after the adjudication hearing. If the juvenile was placed on informal adjustment review the conditions of probation upon entering the program. If the child is to be placed outside the home coordinate all activity necessary to effect the placement including: complete the Common Placement Application for secure all necessary records arrange required interviews and evaluations obtain modified conditions of probation for the placement and review them with the juvenile/parents(s) make arrangements for transportation of the juvenile to the designated facility and conduct subsequent monthly progress reviews.
• Maintain the minimal number of contacts with the juvenile placed on probation or informal adjustment as mandated by the Court or required by Departmental Policy including office visits home visits school visits field visits and telephone contacts. Maintain a case file on each juvenile and document all contact and all other relevant information in the file chronologically per Departmental Policy. Administer the collection of all court ordered payments. Obtain urine specimens from the clients for laboratory analysis of illegal substance use. Monitor the juveniles compliance with the conditions of probation and report violations to the Chief Probation Officer prosecutor and/or the Court per departmental standards. Refer the juvenile and or parent(s) to appropriate social service agencies or individuals for evaluation and treatment as needed. Pursue amendments to the conditions of probation for additional restrictions and/or treatment programs if required.

Note: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is assigned by the supervisor.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelors degree (B.A. or B.S.) in a behavior science field from four-year college or university and one (1) plus years of experience (Juvenile Probation experience preferred); or one (1) year of graduate study in a behavior science field in accordance with Section 75.042 of the Texas Human Resources Code and Texas Juvenile Probation Standards and one (1) year of experience or one (1) year of graduate study in a related field. Individual must have a valid Texas drivers license and provide a 3-year driving history in order to operate county vehicles. Must submit to and pass a complete background history check drug screen and psychological evaluation. Required to maintain current Juvenile Probation Officer Certification.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read analyze and interpret general business periodicals professional journals technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write report business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers clients juvenile justice system personnel and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add subtract multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers common fraction and decimals. Ability to compute rate ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written oral diagram or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger handle or feel objects tools or controls; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This position has been identified with possible risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and/or other various hazards that require immunization against such exposure.

*If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application any pre-employment testing the interview process or otherwise participating in the selection process please direct your inquires to Comal County Human Resources at or.