Job Description

About the Department Services:

The Intake and Court Services Division is comprised of the Intake Screening Unit and the Court Services Unit, which includes the Pre-Adjudication Team (PAT). The Intake and Court units are often the initial points of contact for youth and families referred to HCJPD. The Intake Unit operates 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Intake staff screen youth referred to the department by law enforcement agencies and determine whether or not a youth should be detained and held for a detention hearing or released home pending referral to a diversion program or petitioned to appear in a juvenile district court.  The Court Services Unit is responsible for preparing a comprehensive profile of each youth referred to the juvenile district court with recommendations for the most appropriate and least restrictive dispositional outcome.  Both the Intake Unit and Court Unit identify risk factors of the youth and needs of the family and provide referrals to youth and family-oriented community resources.  

About the Position:

The Pre-Adjudication Team (PAT) Juvenile Probation Officer provides intensive supervision for youth released from the Juvenile Detention Hearing Court and Juvenile District Courts, pending a District Court appearance and outcome. The PAT Officer also connects the youth and families to community programs based on the youth's identified risk factors and needs, and monitors their participation and compliance with programs and court ordered conditions of release. PAT Supervision serves as an alternative to detention, allowing higher-risk youth offenders a chance to remain in the community while pending court.  

Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Initiates and maintains contact with the youth and family in accordance with designated supervision levels through home visits, school visits, office visits and telephone contacts.
• Monitors and enforces the conditions of release, including daily oversight of GPS monitoring systems and report violations to the appropriate court.
• Completes all aspects of casefile management in a timely and accurate manner including interviews (office and telephone), court reports, data entry, detention visits, pre-court staffing, and all other tasks needed for each case.
• Identifies and facilitates connections to community based programs and services.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

Qualifying applicants must complete the HCJPD Standard Basic Spelling & Grammar assessment  with a minimum score of 80%.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree conferred by a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and either:

• (A) One year of graduate study at an accredited college or university (18 completed post-graduate hours) in Criminology, Corrections, Counseling, Law, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or other closely related field.

OR

• (B) At least 1500 hours of paid or non-paid experience working in a social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons. These hours must have been earned within 12 months, which do not have to be consecutive months.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

• Working knowledge of Court Services and Pre-Adjudication Team Policies and Procedures.
• Working Knowledge of Juvenile Detention Hearing Court and Juvenile District Court procedures.
• Working knowledge of detention alternative programs, departmental services and programs, and community resources.
• Demonstrates good decision making skills and sustains a high level of judgment.
• Knowledge of Texas Juvenile Justice Department standards.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and all other computer systems and programs needed to perform the job.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an active certification as a Juvenile Probation Officer in accordance with TJJD requirements.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have available transportation for use on the job with vehicle insured to comply with the liability limits required by statute.

Additional Requirements:

• Upon receiving a conditional job offer, each applicant must undergo a criminal background check, a tuberculosis (TB) skin test, and a drug screening, as well as provide certified copies of their educational transcripts.
• In the event of a declared public emergency by the county, staff may be reassigned to different duties, facilities, or placed under the supervision of another county department.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
• This position involves working with challenging youth where use of crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies may be necessary to ensure the safety of both youth and staff.
• This position involves working with challenging youth where use of crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies may be necessary to ensure the safety of both youth and staff.

Criminal History Checks for positions requiring state certifications:

Applicants applying for a position requiring a state certification must adhere to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) Standards. Before making an offer of employment for a position eligible for certification, HCJPD will verify that the applicant meets the background qualification for the position according to TJJD Standards 344.300 & 344.400.

§344.400 Disqualifying Criminal History:

(a)Applicants for Certification. An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification or for employment in a position requiring certification:

(1) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony listed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.054 (formerly known as “3(g) offenses” under former Article 42.12) or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition; or

(2) deferred adjudication or conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined in Article 62.001, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition.

§344.410 Other Criminal History:

(1) An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification, employment, or otherwise providing service in a position requiring certification without prior review and approval by TJJD as provided in §344.420 of this chapter:

(A) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony other than those referenced in §344.400(a) of this chapter or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than 10 years prior to the date the review is requested; or

(B) deferred adjudication or conviction for any Class A or B misdemeanor in Texas or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than five years prior to the date the review is requested.

NOTE : Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume"will not be accepted for qualifications.

 
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) is committed to the protection of the public utilizing intervention strategies that are community-based, family-oriented, and least restrictive while emphasizing responsibility and accountability of both parent and child. HCJPD provides supervision and services to youth between the ages of 10 and 17, who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. HCJPD is the largest juvenile probation department in Texas with approximately 1,100 employees and over 3,500 youth referred to the department annually.  

• Make an Impact:  Working for HCJPD provides the opportunity to serve your community and be a positive role model for young people. Our pace of work enables fast learning and fosters an environment where you can make a positive impact.  

• Professional Growth: We are committed to growing the capabilities of our staff by building a learning community where you can work with diverse individuals, explore new ways of thinking, and expand your skills. Our employees are Juvenile Justice Practitioners who share their knowledge to enhance each other’s growth.

Harris County Juvenile Probation Department - Be an Agent of Change:

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time

• 40 Hours per week |  To include late nights and weekend hours.

  • Hours will be discussed during departmental interview.

• $53,497.60 - $72,779.20 Annually
• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods
  • Plus, benefits

Location:

• JJC (1200 Congress St. Houston Tx 77002)

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

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