City and County of San Francisco

This specification defines and describes the full range of tasks included within the levels of the deep class of Deputy Probation Officer. Assignments within this class vary in degree of complexity, responsibility and amount of supervision received.

Under supervision, conducts general and pre-sentence investigations; investigates and supervises adult or juvenile defendants or court wards; prepares various reports for the courts; prepares recommendations and assists the courts in detention decisions and recommendations for sentencing decisions; supervises and counsels probationers to assist in complying with the court orders, educational and vocational services and family counseling; performs intensive casework management; assists in the training of new and reassigned officers; performs a variety of specialized assignments; and performs related duties as required.

"The class specification shall be descriptive of the class and shall not be considered as a restriction on the assignment of duties not specifically listed."(CSC Rule 9.3.2)

1. Interviews, investigates and supervises juvenile and adult offenders including cases which may entail severe personality and emotional disorders, dangerously aggressive behavior, aggravated offenses; interviews offenders, law enforcement officers, government agencies, employers, victims, family, relatives, acquaintances, and others in order to evaluate the nature of the violation, extent of responsibility, attitude, plans and other related information; interacts with workers from other agencies in cases of mutual interest; investigates personal background, family history, education, employment and financial status; visits homes, schools, employers, churches, neighborhoods, recreational areas and other places to obtain pertinent social and economic background information; prepares and submits case findings requiring reports with recommendations for unit supervisor's approval; may represent department in court; records disposition and conditions of probation, interviews probationers about installment payments of court imposed fines, restitution and child support.

2. Appears in court as needed and represents the department in matters involving probation decisions and questions raised by the court, district attorney or the defendant's attorney; submits supplemental information as required; calendars and presents motions to extend, revoke, modify and terminate probation.

3. Assists in the training of new or reassigned officers and may act as backup supervisor.

4. May represent the department at community group meetings concerned with the operations of policies of the probation department; may prepare special reports and deliver lectures on the causes and extent of anti-social behavior and the methods employed in evaluating and rehabilitating offenders.

5. Discusses the nature and conditions of probation with probationers and respondents; counsels and advises probationers and refers them to agencies and organizations dealing with specialized social, emotional or legal problems; evaluates probationers' progress in compliance with court orders and prepares periodic reports and recommendations; discusses revocation action, case progress and case termination with supervisor, answers questions from courts, other departments and community organizations regarding the status and progress of probationers.

6. Serves as liaison between the probation department and the courts, Department of Human Services, Sheriff s Department, California State Department of Corrections and other agencies; confers with other staff members on casework techniques and special problems; maintains contacts with various employment related agencies; interviews applicants for programs and determines eligibility; supervises probationers during their enrollment in programs; and prepares and maintains reports and records.

7. Investigates complaints of habitually beyond control behavior; interviews parents, relatives, religious leaders, social workers and the child to evaluate the complaints and determine their validity and I seriousness; provides counseling and casework service to the parents and children to effect the social rehabilitation of the family; prepares progress reports and discusses advisability of referral of family to other agencies, discusses placement of children in foster homes or institutions and determination of probation; arranges for placement of children in foster homes and counsels children and foster parents; maintains periodic contact to assess conditions of homes and children's progress.

8. Reviews, recommends, files and executes petitions for the sealing of former Juvenile Court records; interviews applicant and checks all pertinent records to determine if rehabilitation has been attained; notifies all affected agencies of the Superior Court decree and order; files step-parent adoption reports and records with the Superior Court; interviews the child's birth parents, step-parents, attorneys and others; witnesses and executes all necessary documents to complete the adoption procedures.

9. Participates in specialized assignments including but not limited to gang and drug abatement, sex crimes, serious/habitual offenders, multiple agency task force, field enforcement and community liaison.

10. Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of: the methods, techniques and procedures in evaluating and supervising juvenile and adult offenders; principles, techniques and trends in social and correctional casework; the various social, economic and psychological factors affecting criminal and other anti-social behavior of individuals; court procedures and the general law relating to the legal rights of offenders; services of public and private agencies available to offenders, dependent children, emotionally disturbed individuals, alcoholics, and those in need of family and employment counseling.

Ability to: inspire confidence and employ techniques of acquiring essential information from offenders and others; develop, establish and maintain effective working relationships with the courts, governmental and community agencies, co-workers and other departmental personnel; review and evaluate official documents; and prepare clear, accurate and concise reports for a legal environment.

Skill: computer literacy.

Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be:

Training: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in the Social and Behavioral Sciences or closely related field.

Possession of a valid Driver's License.

Special Requirements: The Deputy Probation Officer class employees must complete 200 hours of core probation officer training during the first year of appointment. 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. Appointees will be required to meet State-mandated CORE training requirements as defined by Standards for Training in Corrections (STC). Employees must also conform to all other requirements necessary to hold and maintain peace officer status pursuant to the California Government Code.