Probation Corrections Officer I

The Probation Department invites you to watch their video that highlights the work they do within the community we serve:

The Probation Corrections Officer (PCO) I position offers a challenging and rewarding start to a career helping our community's residents. In addition to learning the fundamental principles of the juvenile justice system, PCOs have the unique opportunity to use their skills to directly and positively influence the course of a person's life. As a PCO I, you will perform a wide variety of duties related to the care, guidance, and supervision of detained residents in the Probation Department's Juvenile Hall. Responsibilities include:

• Communicating directly with detained residents on an individual or group basis, mentoring, counseling, and applying crisis intervention skills
• Assisting in supervising residents in daily activities such as hygiene, meals, school, physical exercise, structured programs, leisure time, and visitation
• Maintaining ongoing security checks and overseeing the activities of offenders detained in Probation facilities
• Performing administrative and operational duties, including data entry into justice system databases
• Transporting residents to and from various locations

Please Note: To be considered for these positions, applicants must be willing to: wear a uniform and work all shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. PCOs are Peace Officers as defined by Penal Code Section 830.5, and must successfully complete the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Juvenile Correctional Core Course and Penal Code 832 Arrest and Control training within one year of appointment.

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Probation Corrections Officer II (up to $99,284 annually)
• Bilingual Premium Pay*- An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple, full-time Probation Corrections Officer I positions in the Probation Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions that may occur during the active status of the employment list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Experience and Education: Any combination of experience, education, and training which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to qualify is: Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable General Educational Development (GED) certificate, as required to meet the minimum standards for Peace Officer status under California Government Code, Section 1031

AND

Option 1: Six months of experience working with and/or providing direction or supervision to juvenile or adult groups as a group or youth counselor or other experience related to counseling or case management of troubled youth AND completion of fifteen (15) semester college units. Coursework in psychology, sociology, criminology, child development, social welfare, recreation, or other closely related social/behavioral science fields is highly desired.

OR

Option 2: Completion of thirty (30) semester college units. Coursework in psychology, sociology, criminology, child development, social welfare, recreation, or other closely related social/behavioral science fields is highly desired.

OR

Option 3: One (1) year of experience working in public safety, law enforcement, a residential treatment facility, or a social services agency.

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 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, a 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 Probation Corrections Officer I classification are Peace Officers as defined 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 education requirements. Incumbents must successfully complete Penal Code 832 Arrest and Control training and the BSCC Juvenile Correctional Officer Core Course within one year of appointment.

Individuals hired into this job classification shall serve a probationary period of one year.

License: Possession of, or 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 of: evidence-based practices; trauma-informed care; factors that influence human behavior, particularly as they relate to child development, transitional aged youth development, and personality, behavior patterns, motivation, and group and family dynamics; methods of guidance, counseling, conflict resolution, and behavioral modification; basic engagement and coaching principles; personal hygiene techniques and methods for instructing residents in maintaining proper self-care; recreation activities commonly enjoyed by youth and young adults; child abuse reporting laws; department policies, regulations, and functions; food preparation and service; first aid and CPR.

Ability to: 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 or other reports; exercise good judgment and adopt effective courses of action in emergency situations; learn and 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/or socio-economic backgrounds; establish and maintain appropriate relationships with residents; 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; learn to guide, teach, and supervise residents while maintaining appropriate boundaries, particularly when working with individuals experiencing mental health conditions; apply first aid to residents and staff; assist residents in developing personal hygiene skills; provide age appropriate recreation activities; perform light janitorial, sanitation, and maintenance tasks; supervise and direct groups of residents during programming, meal, and leisure time activities; establish credibility and persuade others; maintain composure in a stressful environment; learn to effectively subdue, restrain, and control residents for the safety and protection of themselves and others; defend against attacks from residents.

• 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 be completed.

The supplemental questionnaire is a critical component of your employment application. Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. 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.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examinations:

1. An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities, which relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position.

2. A multiple-choice, written examination (weight 100%), will be conducted to further evaluate each candidate's qualifications as they relate to the position. The written examination will measure the core knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position such as:

• Written Communication - Spelling
• Written Communication - Grammar
• Reading Comprehension - Identify a Difference
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding Passages
• Apply Rules - Logical Sequences
• Apply Rules - Appropriate Placement
• Apply Rules - Level of Priority
• Apply Rules - Forms
• Apply Rules - Scenarios
• Basic Math - Addition/Subtraction

The T-score letter must be submitted before the recruitment closes. Additionally, the T-score letter must be on the testing agency's letterhead and include the:

• Name of the exam
• Date the exam was taken
• T score
• Name of the agency that administered the exam

Should you have any questions, please direct them to Peter Peringer-Batten at 707-565-3227.

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 applicants.

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: PPB