Pretrial Services Officer

Allen County

Job Descriptions

PRETRIAL SERVICES OFFICER

This position is supported through ongoing grant funding and is classified as grant-funded, nonexempt, and unclassified. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of annual grant funding. This position has been continuously funded through annual grants since 2016.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Under the direction of the Criminal Division Services Executive Director, the Pretrial Services Officer is responsible for screening, evaluating and/or supervising defendants/clients as needed and/or directed by the Court. This position is covered under the Superior Court Employee Handbook.  This is an employee-at-will position.

SCHEDULE

This position is 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. with occasional evenings and weekends and some occasional out of town travel, including overnight, to attend various meetings, seminars and conferences.

BENEFITS

This position is eligible for health insurance and life insurance benefits. This position currently does not qualify for the full county benefits package.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assists in the implementation of, and adheres to, elements of a high-functioning pretrial system.
• Conducts risk assessments as needed or directed, gathering criminal history and related information, evaluating information and assisting in the determination of release eligibility. 
• Conducts family background and criminal history investigations as needed or directed in an attempt to facilitate the release of defendants at the earliest possible time and by the least restrictive procedure.
• Monitors CDS and pretrial release defendants as needed/directed; magnitude of monitoring pursuant to defendant’s level of risk.  Assists with general supervision of pretrial and CDS clientele. 
• Prepares release documents, bail conditions, and noncompliance notices regarding release conditions; explains all documents and conditions of release to defendants and their families, attorneys, and other concerned individuals.  Makes referrals to services in the community and in-house education as ordered by the court.
• Prepares bond reports as ordered by the Court.
• Investigates failures to appear and violations of release conditions, recommends action and/or produces Notices to the Court and/or Director of Criminal Division Services when violations of release conditions are discovered.
• Conducts chemical testing on a scheduled or random basis as ordered by the Court and maintains chemical test results records; performs alcohol-sensor tests as needed.
• Enters and maintains defendant/client/participant data in case management system, assuring accuracy and completeness of all information, records case activity, composes detailed notes in database, including all contact with defendants/clients/participants, their families and other concerned persons.  Maintains and continually updates individual files for each defendant/client/participant.
• Compiles and reports statistics; researches pretrial services issues and incarceration data; assists in data-entry and data procurement from the pretrial case management system as instructed by the Director of Criminal Division Services.  Assists in the development and implementation of evidence-based pretrial practices.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related field. 
• Three years’ experience in the Human Services field preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, all local, state and federal laws applicable to program operation and the ability to apply and enforce the regulations
• Working knowledge of standard policies and practices of Allen County legal systems, Criminal Division Services and program operations with the ability to accurately complete required legal reports, make recommendations to the Court and apply and adapt procedures as cases demand
• Ability to become trained and maintain authorized user status in the Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS)
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required continuing education units (CEUs) in accordance with current Indiana Pretrial standards.
• Ability to effectively interview, evaluate, investigate, counsel, and work with defendants/clients/participants and their families to determine appropriate bond and release conditions, ensure proper compliance and/or enforcement of release requirements
• Ability to deal swiftly, rationally and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of all department records and information
• Knowledge of and ability to apply evidence collection and preservation techniques

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

The Pretrial Services Officer maintains frequent communication with co-workers, program personnel, law enforcement and social services agencies, defendants/clients/participants and their families, and other members of the public and court officials. This position involves investigating, evaluating, and supervising defendants/clients/participants; making referrals; explaining procedures; providing and requesting case-related information; monitoring and evaluating clients/participants; assuring compliance with applicable regulations and legal requirements; and resolving problems to improve the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The Pretrial Services Officer performs duties in a standard office environment, with the ability to stand, be seated or walk at will, and in the field.  The Pretrial Services Officer maintains frequent contact with aggressive, hostile, intoxicated and potentially dangerous, violent and abusive program clients/participants and their families.

SUPERVISION:

None

LICENSING:

Valid Driver’s License

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:

Assistant Director and Executive Director of Criminal Division Services

HOURS:

Mon – Fri, 11:00 am – 7:30 pm with occasional evenings and weekends.  Some occasional out of town travel, including overnight, to attend various meetings, seminars and conferences.

Job Details

Pay Type:  Hourly         Starting Rate:  25.00 US