Pretrial Hearings Officer (Probation Counselor II)

This position is located in the Community Corrections Services Unit, which serves a diverse, multi-lingual adult population referred to the Court for charges that are domestic in nature or where the victim is a minor. This position reviews all defendants' cases prior to arraignments using the arrest warrant, bail determination sheet, Virginia Court-Appointed Counsel sheet, criminal and traffic histories, defendant demographics sheet, Virginia Pretrial Risk Assessment Instrument (VPRAI) with Praxis recommendation, the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen and all reference notes collected during the initial jail interview. Formulates a recommendation and presents recommendations regarding bond, conditions of release and court-appointed counsel eligibility to the Judiciary in court at arraignments.

Conducts initial interview of defendants in the jail if not completed at time of arrest. Initial interview includes entering all demographic information into the PSLP database and completion of the VPRAI and the Virginia Court Appointed Counsel sheet. Collects data from arresting documents, Brief Jail Mental Health Screen, information gathered from personal interviews with defendants and completes reference checks by verifying the information with family, friends, employers and co-workers. Computer systems including the Fairfax County local record system, VCIN/NCIC and DMV, are used to obtain defendants criminal histories.

Maintains small caseload of defendants who are placed on pretrial supervision in accordance with the referring judges orders and in compliance with local and state mandated policy. Notifies the referring Judge of any violations and testifies in Court as needed. Utilizes evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), and interventions such as Carey Guides and EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision) to assist individuals through pretrial supervision and address any risk and need factors identified. Aids defendants in obtaining employment, treatment, housing, and other community services. Conducts alcohol and drug testing as appropriate and runs VCIN/NCIC record checks as necessary. Ensures case data is entered into the Department of Criminal Justice Services database, PSLP (Pretrial Services and Local Probation), in accordance with agency and state-mandated guidelines. Ensures all paperwork is accurate, thorough and completed in a timely fashion.

Completes the jail review process of all incarcerated defendants pending trial to determine their eligibility for the Pretrial Supervision Program, personal recognizance, a court appointed attorney or a change in court date to expedite case resolution. Collects and submits specific data points for use in statistical reports.

Schedule: This position may be required to work flex hours to meet the needs of a 24-hour office.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Counseling and Treatment Services
Conducts intake interviews and supervises offenders/defendants through office and home visits to verify compliance with court-orders;
Formulates treatment or rehabilitation plans for and presents written or oral recommendations for adjustment of behavior;
Supervises and monitors community service requirements; schedules payments, collects court costs and restitution; monitors urine tests;
Supervises visits or exchanges according to court orders or other relevant agreements;
Provides intensive supervision/monitoring, counseling and treatment of juvenile and adult offenders;
Interviews juvenile or adult offenders, their families and related persons to determine the nature of the adjustment difficulty;
Refers offenders/defendants to other agencies or facilities as needed and maintains liaison with service providers to coordinate evaluations;
Conducts field investigations;
Testifies in court and provides required written reports on adjustment and compliance to courts;
Documents and maintains prescribed records of casework services and periodically compiles related statistics:
Aids clients in obtaining employment;
Arranges for the court appearance of the client and family;
Informs clients of available community resources;
Arranges appointments for medical examinations and psychological testing;
Cooperates with representatives from State and local social service and law enforcement agencies in cases of mutual interest;
Composes and dictates case records, petitions and correspondence;

Intake Officer
Provides intake services, determines probable cause, issues related to jurisdiction, venue and appropriateness of filing petitions and/or issuance of detention or shelter care orders; Reviews complaints filed by law enforcement and citizens, conducts assessments to determine appropriateness for diversion;
Case manages diversion clients;
Decisions are made in compliance with the Code of Virginia, and Department of Juvenile Justice and/or Court Services Unit policies and procedures;

Residential Services:
Positions located in a residential facility supervise and direct house routines and therapeutic programs;
Ensures that residents maintain behavioral norms;
Coordinates and implements a residential program area such as recreational, educational or employment activities;
May drive a passenger van for educational and recreational trips;
Maintains on-going contact/communication with victims and witnesses during investigation and judicial proceedings;
Works with and assists the officers and detectives within a district station assignment with the victim services and referrals;
Provides court accompaniment to crime victim and witnesses for all court proceedings in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations, General District and Circuit Courts;
Responds to call-outs to crime scenes and other locations to provide immediate crisis intervention and support;
Provides training to departmental staff, commonwealth attorneys, judicial staff, and other relevant community organizations;

Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) Case Management Services
Works with court referred clients who have been charged/convicted of impaired driving offenses and first-time drug offenders;
Maintains a caseload of court referred and volunteer clients;
Interviews clients during intake process and assigns appropriate program classification;
Writes intake summary on each client interviewed;
Conducts case management duties to include monitoring of ignition interlock and administration of alcohol breath tests;
Monitors clients progress and make referral as needed;
Writes and prepares reports to the courts, clients and treatment providers;
Testifies in court on non-compliant cases, make appropriate recommendations when requested by the judge;

Victims Services
Provides supportive services to victims and witnesses of crime involved in the criminal justice system including emotional support, financial assistance, counseling, and victim agency referrals;
Maintains on-going contact/communication with victims and witnesses during investigation and judicial proceedings, and provides notifications of investigative activity or case developments as needed;
Provides court accompaniment to crime victim and witnesses for all court proceedings in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations, General District and Circuit Courts;
Reduces delays in bringing cases to court by assisting in determining availability of victims and witnesses;
Responds to call-outs to crime scenes and other locations to provide immediate crisis intervention and support, refers clients to related supportive services and agencies;
Operates a county vehicle to provide the effective delivery of services to victims and witnesses including transporting victims and witnesses to court hearings, commonwealth's attorneys meetings and other court related appointments;
Provides assistance by administering and providing services designed to enhance coordination among agencies operating within the criminal justice system;
Works with and assists the officers and detectives within their district station assignment or the criminal investigations bureau with the proper victim services and referrals;
Encourage citizen awareness and participation through public information and education.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of casework supervision practices and procedures;
Knowledge of the principles of psychology and sociology;
Knowledge of current social and economic conditions;
Ability to use technology to enter and retrieve information;
Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to probation work and victim services;
Ability to interview and counsel clients;
Ability to prepare complete case records and reports;
Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social/behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or education plus two years of professional experience in probation work, social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education, or counseling. A master's degree in the disciplines above may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
VCIN - VA Criminal Information Network (Required within 6 months)
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) (Required within 6 months)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position will be required to complete the following to the satisfaction of the employer:

• Criminal Background Investigation
• Child Protective Services Registry Check

• Bachelor's degree and three or more years of experience working in the judicial system.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work and make decisions independently with minimal supervision.
• Some experience working in a high-volume community corrections or adult probation office is preferred.
• Experience using the National Crime Information System (NCIC)/Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN).
• Experience with case management and supervising clients in the community.
• Experience completing risk assessments, making referrals to services, and utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Experience presenting and testifying in court.
• Experience using a probation case management system such as Pretrial and Community Corrections case management system (PTCC) or Pretrial Services and Local Probation (PSLP) database.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite.

• Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist and shoulder movements.
• Position is generally sedentary in nature; however visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.?

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.

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Requisition 23-02133