Placer County

To provide for the care and custody of incarcerated juveniles in county institutions; and to provide counseling on an occasional basis to juvenile wards.

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 juveniles 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 distinguished from the Supervising Deputy Probation Officer – Institution in that the latter has full supervisory responsibility for a unit, while the former has lead responsibility or serves as a technical specialist. 

Receives direction from a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer.

Exercises technical and functional supervision over clerical, technical, entry level, and new professional staff.

• 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 delinquent and/or emotionally disturbed juveniles on a shift in recreational, work and study activities, including meals, personal hygiene, athletics, and housekeeping chores; evaluate and confer with supervisory personnel regarding medical problems, and other issues related to juveniles. 
• Maintain security and safety of juveniles and staff; 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 juveniles, building, and equipment against disturbances, fires, and other hazards. 
• Admit and release juveniles upon proper authority; book juveniles; make detention decisions. 
• Conduct individual and group crisis counseling to modify anti-social behavior and aid detainees in making proper adjustments to the detention situation; counsel juveniles and families in an attempt to create a constructive group social atmosphere. 
• Assist in the assessment and development of a treatment plan for detained children. 
• 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 juveniles. 
• Escort and transport adults and juveniles to a variety of locations, including court appearances within the County and in other states. 
• Search minors for weapons, contraband, or narcotics. 
• Serve meals. 
• Perform related duties as required.

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: Three years of probation officer experience, which includes at least one year in a class comparable to a Deputy Probation Officer II – Institution in Placer County.

Training: An Associate of Arts degree or equivalent (completion of 60 units at an accredited college, with at least 9 units in the behavioral sciences). Experience as a group or youth counselor, or other paid, full-time experience in related juvenile work may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Required License or Certificate:

• Must successfully complete Section 832 Penal Code Training (Search and Seizure) within 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 (BSCC) within one year from date of hire.
• Must successfully complete First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) within one year of date of hire. 
• Must maintain valid First Aid and CPR certificates.
• 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. 

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 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 (BSCC) standards in Title 15, Sections 130-132.
• Must pass a background investigation for the classification. 
• 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.

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 juveniles.
• State and local laws and Departmental policies and procedures affecting juvenile detention and probation.
• Problems involved in handling juveniles under restraint.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.

Ability to:

• Train and mentor staff.
• Serve as shift supervisor.
• Maintain security and safety of incarcerated juveniles within an institutional setting.
• On an intermittent basis: analyze individual behavior and social systems; identify potential problems among clients; interpret and understand human behavior; explain procedures and policies to inmates; problem solve situations by mediating disputes; know routine safety and security measures.  Continuously, observe wards and adults under supervision and remember past behavior and medications.
• On an intermittent basis: sit while preparing reports or counseling juveniles; walk to supervise wards within the institutions; stand, bend, and squat to book juveniles into the facility or perform searches; kneel to restrain a juvenile; climb in situations of pursuit; manage physical confrontations when individuals become physically abusive; use fine hand manipulation for handcuffs, weapons, and computer use; visual, auditory, and sense of smell needed for supervision of incarcerated juvenile; physically restrain juvenile and adult inmates; and lift very heavy weight.
• Restrain physically aggressive juveniles and adults.
• Apply restraints, handcuffs, and shackles.
• Perform crisis intervention; give individual counseling and understand counseling techniques and methods.
• Perform arrest, search, and seizure activities safely and within the confines of the law.
• Learn Departmental computer system and operation.
• Read and apply court orders.
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions under a variety of conditions.
• Inspire confidence and gain the respect of juvenile wards and adult program participants.
• Work effectively in difficult situations.
• Lift and carry heavy weight in the event of an emergency.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• 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.