Senior Probation Corrections Officer - Promotional

Job Description:

Senior Probation Corrections Officer - Promotional

Description

Position Information

This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position.

The Probation Department has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Senior Probation Corrections Officer position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Probation employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time or part-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

As a Senior Probation Corrections Officer , you will serve in a lead capacity, providing guidance and support to other Corrections Officers while overseeing the daily activities of youth housed at Juvenile Hall and Probation Camp. You will help maintain facility safety and security, provide counseling and behavioral support, and collaborate with staff and service providers to address residents' needs. Additional responsibilities will include:

• Facilitating cognitive behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, and other evidence-based practices
• Providing intensive casework and developing short-term case plans for residents
• Supporting staff with program facilitation, curriculum development, and addressing resident behavioral concerns
• Applying crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to manage challenging situations
• Maintaining case records and documenting resident behavior in justice system databases

The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to supporting positive behavioral change. They will also possess many of the following:

• Knowledge of evidence-based practices and juvenile case management
  
• Experience providing guidance and support to fellow staff members
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with youth from diverse backgrounds
  
• Effective communication, documentation, and organizational skills
  
• Experience applying trauma-informed care and crisis intervention techniques
  
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
  

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education : Any combination of experience, education, and training which would provide the required knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to qualify is: One year full-time experience in a position equivalent or closely related to Probation Corrections Officer II with the County of Sonoma.

Additional Requirements: In accordance with California Government Code, Section 1029 - 1031, and the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 131, Minimum Standards for Selection, each employee shall meet the following minimum standards: Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law; have no prior felony conviction nor be under current formal probation supervision; and achieved a passing score on the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) selection written exam, or equivalent prior to appointment.

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

Candidates must be willing to wear a uniform, work non-traditional hours, and different work shifts, including weekends and holidays. Candidates may be required to work overtime and cannot leave the facility unless relieved.

Incumbents in the Senior Probation Corrections Officer classification are Peace Officers defined as by Penal Code Section 830.5. Existing law requires Peace Officers to meet specific minimum standards, including age (21 years at time of appointment) and educational requirements. Incumbents newly hired must successfully complete Penal Code 832 Arrest and Control training and the California Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) Juvenile Correctional Officer Core Course within one year of appointment.

Those appointed to this class shall serve a probation period of one year .

License: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid State of California Class C driver’s license is required by date of hire and must be maintained throughout employment in this classification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of : evidence-based practices; trauma-informed care; factors that influence human behavior, particularly as they related to child development, transitional aged youth development, and personality; recreational activities commonly enjoyed by youth and young adults; the laws, practices, and procedures pertinent to the detention and custody of youth and young adults; child abuse reporting laws; first-aid techniques and practices; CPR; personal hygiene techniques and methods for instructing residents in maintaining proper self-care; Probation justice database systems and other technology used in the facility; behavior patterns, motivation, and group and family dynamics; the methods and techniques of individual and group counseling within a correctional institution setting; methods of conflict resolution; de-escalation tactics; engagement and coaching principles; accepted methods used to modify behavior; departmental policies, procedures, and functions; principles and methods of detention and care of residents; techniques that motivate and encourage the efficiency and productivity of staff and residents.

Ability to: coordinate and lead the work activities of Probation Corrections Officers; provide information regarding the behavior and performance of subordinate staff and residents; apply techniques of effective group dynamics; supervise and direct residents during educational, work, meal, and programming activities; establish and maintain the respect of the residents, including engaging with residents who may suffer from severe mental health conditions; maintain control in individual and group situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, health and social service providers, families, law enforcement agencies, other County departments, and the public; effectively communicate orally and in writing; listen actively; read and comprehend instructions and standards, and apply them to a variety of situations; make and record detailed observations; write descriptive narratives, including incident, court, or other reports; exercise good judgment and adopt effective courses of action in emergency situations; integrate new technical skills and knowledge; problem solve, think critically, prioritize, and work under pressure; be flexible, dependable, and adapt to changing situations; identify officer safety issues; de-escalate interactions with residents who are highly emotional and/or aggressive; understand and accept differences in human behavior; effectively interact with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, generational, and socio-economic backgrounds; lead the activities of entry- and journey-level Probation Corrections Officers; apply first aid; provide clear and concise oral explanations of situations that have transpired; train and coach staff in all aspects of their job responsibilities while maintaining other expected duties; establish credibility and persuade others; effectively subdue, restrain, and control residents for the safety and protection of themselves and others; as well as defend against attacks from residents; maintain composure in a stressful environment.

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 hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to 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 examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

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 candidates.

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: CA

HR Technician: KK

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits:*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 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 generous County 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 Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at [email protected] or (707) 565-2900.

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

Closing Date/Time: 10/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$95,256.16 - $115,793.42 Annually