Deputy Probation Officer Senior - Institution

Job Description:

Deputy Probation Officer Senior - Institution

Description

POSITION INFORMATION

This is a promotional recruitment - only permanent and/or probationary County employees are eligible to apply.

DEFINITION

To provide for the care and custody of incarcerated youth in county institutions; and to provide more difficult or complex counseling on an occasional basis to youth wards at the Juvenile Detention Facility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey and lead level in the Deputy Probation Officer - Institution series. Incumbents are deployed across all shifts to provide relief coverage for shift supervisors, serve as lead workers, staff special projects, and train and orient new staff. Incumbents will perform duties of line staff, including direct supervision of youth when not assigned as shift supervisor. Incumbents are knowledgeable about all institutional operations and provide technical advice and guidance to staff. This class is distinguished from the Deputy Probation Officer II - Institution in that this class is the lead or specialist level. It is further distinguished from the Supervising Deputy Probation Officer in that the latter has full supervisory responsibility for a unit, while the former has lead responsibility or serves as a technical specialist.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over clerical, technical, and lower-level professional staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Train and orient institutional staff; plan and present in-service and on-the-job training; monitor staff performance; provide direction and explain institution and department policies and procedures.
  
• Organize and supervise a group of youth in a custodial setting on a shift in recreational, work, and study activities, including meals, personal hygiene, athletics, and housekeeping chores; evaluate and confer with supervisory staff regarding medical problems, and other issues related to youth.
  
• Maintain security and safety of youth and staff in accordance with state and local laws and ordinances, and Department policy and procedures; employ prescribed security measures while directing youths in their daily routine; handle routine disciplinary problems.
  
• Make frequent security checks of assigned areas in the facility to safeguard the youth, building, and equipment against disturbances, criminal activity, fires, and other hazards.
  
• Admit and release youth upon proper authority; book youth; make detention decisions.
  
• Conduct individual and group crisis counseling to modify anti-social behavior and aid youth in making proper adjustments to the detention situation; counsel youth and families in an attempt to create a constructive group social atmosphere.
  
• Assist in the assessment and development of a treatment plan for detained youth.
  
• Communicate with parents, probation officers, police, or other individuals as required.
  
• Keep and maintain records; prepare reports; may perform various clerical duties, such as typing and posting of booking records.
  
• Serve as a member of the supervision unit in monitoring the activities and treatment programs of youth.
  
• Escort and transport adults and youth to a variety of locations, including court appearances within the County and in other states.
  
• Search minors for weapons, contraband, or narcotics.
  
• Lead or participate in group and individual in-service training programs.
  
• Serve meals.
  
• Perform related duties as required.
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in an indoor environment located in a secure, locked detention facility with controlled temperature conditions and may require travel to and from locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. Duties are performed in close proximity to incarcerated youth and in environmental conditions related to probation work. Position may require working on weekends, holidays, and odd or irregular hours and may be subject to emergency call-out as well as unusual and prolonged work schedules, and working multiple shifts during emergencies, or as required to meet service needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Two (2) years of probation officer experience, which includes at least one (1) year in a class comparable to a Deputy Probation Officer II - Institution in Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to an associate's degree (completion of sixty (60) units at an accredited college, with at least nine (9) units in the behavioral sciences, administration of justice, criminal justice, corrections, or a closely related field). Experience as a group or youth counselor, or other paid, full-time experience in related youth work may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
  
• Must successfully complete Section 832 Penal Code Training (Search and Seizure) within ninety (90) days from date of hire.
  
• Must successfully complete the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core OR Juvenile Institutions Core Course certified by the Board of State and Community Corrections within one (1) year from date of hire.
  
• Must successfully complete First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within one (1) year from date of hire.
  
• Must maintain valid First Aid and CPR certificates.
  

Special Requirements:

• Employees in this classification are peace officers as defined by section 830.5 of the Penal Code and must satisfy the State of California criteria for peace officer status.
  
• Must be at least 21 years of age upon appointment.
  
• Must meet minimum standards required for Peace Officers as set forth in Section 1029 and 1031 of the Government Code.
  
• Must meet the Board of State and Community Corrections standards in Title 15, Sections 1320-1322.
  
• Must pass a background investigation.
  
• Must meet physical standards established for County Safety employees, including a psychological examination that qualifies candidates to carry firearms.
  
• May be required to qualify for use of a firearm when assigned to transportation positions.
  

NOTE: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Criminal justice structure and system.
• Principles and theories of human behavior.
• Advanced principles and theory of criminal justice and rehabilitation as applied to criminal offenders, including youth.
• State and local laws and Departmental policies and procedures affecting youth detention and probation.
• Problems involved in handling youth under restraint.
• Principles of de-escalation and conflict resolution.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Computer software, applications, and systems, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; analyze individual behavior and situations to determine proper course of action; remember accounts given by witnesses; observe individuals, behaviors, situations, and activities; identify situations of potential altercation; interpret and understand human behavior; read, identify, recall, analyze, interpret, understand, apply, and explain technical and numerical information, work papers, reports, procedures and policies, and applicable rules, laws, codes, and regulations; maintain awareness of safety and security at all times; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; observe wards and adults under supervision, and remember past behavior and medications.
• On a continuous basis, walk or stand during shift; bend, twist, stoop, squat, and kneel during booking process or while working with youth; climb while in pursuit or to observe youth; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; manage physical confrontations when individuals become physically abusive; physically restrain youth and adult inmates; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate or enter/retrieve data from a computer; see, hear, and smell with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; wear utility belt and/or other law enforcement equipment, weighing approximately 10 pounds; intermittently sit at a desk or counter; and lift very heavy weight.
• Train and mentor staff.
• Serve as shift supervisor.
• Maintain security and safety of incarcerated youth within an institutional setting.
• Work as part of a team and in close proximity to incarcerated youth.
• Work assigned shift, including weekends, holidays, and odd or irregular hours; work unusual work schedules, including rotating shifts and overtime.
• Apply restraints, handcuffs, and shackles.
• Drive County-issued vehicle to transport youth.
• Perform arrest, search, and seizure activities safely and within the confines of the law.
• Perform crisis intervention; give individual counseling, and understand counseling techniques and methods.
• Read, understand, and apply court orders.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports and other written materials.
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions under a variety of conditions.
• Inspire confidence and gain the respect of youth wards and adult program participants.
• Work effectively in difficult situations.
• Lift and carry a person in the event of an emergency.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Maintain good physical, emotional, and mental condition to satisfactorily perform the functions of the position.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Be sensitive to various cultural and ethnic groups present in the community.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Lindsay Baer, Administrative Technician, at lbaer@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667.

Closing Date/Time: 5/12/2025 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$38.89 - $48.59/hour; $6,740.93 - $8,422.27/month; $80,891.20 - $101,067.20/year