Probation Officer

Full Job Description

**This recruitment will be used to fill Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position. The TLT is anticipated to end December 31, 2026. **

King County District Court Profile

KCDC is the largest and most technologically advanced Court of Limited Jurisdiction in the State of Washington.

It currently processes approximately 200,000 matters per year with 25 elected judges and roughly 260 employees at 8 courthouse locations.

The Court is a leader in many areas involving public safety and access to justice, including the use of problem-solving courts, jail-alternative programs, technology- and judge-managed probation services.

Thirteen cities contract with King County for court services provided by KCDC.

Position Summary

King County District Court is seeking applicants for a Probation Officer position.

Probation Officer is responsible for managing a caseload of misdemeanant offenders and monitoring compliance with probation conditions as directed by the General Administrative Order (GAO), conducting in-depth interviews with misdemeanant offenders, and assessing problem areas which may include alcohol, other drugs, and domestic violence and mental illness issues.

Other responsibilities also include, but are not limited to writing pre-sentence reports, sending reports and/or appearing in court to address compliance issues, and regular interaction with Judges.

Requirements

• Conducts presentence investigations on orders from the court.
• Conducts in-depth interviews with offenders in order to gather accurate data regarding background and present situation(s).
• Assesses problem areas, including alcohol, other drugs, domestic violence and mental illness.
• Writes presentence reports containing summary background data gathered in presentence interviews and collateral contacts.
• Submits reports, including sentencing alternatives, to the court.
• Monitors compliance with probation conditions as directed by General Administrative Order (GAO) of the Court.
• Consults with higher level personnel on difficult or complex cases.
• Maintains an electronic log of contacts and information obtained relative to an individual case in order to monitor activity and progress.
• Writes final disposition, compliance or violation reports to court including recommendations for review or revocation of probation.
• Send reports and appear in court to present review, revocation or final disposition recommendations at scheduled hearings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to write and speak clearly and concisely.
• Ability to make relevant evaluations and appropriate recommendations based on information obtained during a presentence investigation.
• Ability to work effectively with people with cultural, ethnic and lifestyle backgrounds different from one’s own.
• Willingness to enforce and monitor court requirements and to report all violations.
• Willingness to serve as an agent of the court, without complete client confidentiality, rather than in a traditional treatment role.
• Willingness and ability to accept assignments in various office locations throughout the county.
• Basic interviewing skills, including the ability to put a person at ease, convey ideas verbally, obtain information and direct the interview.
• Must be well organized and have the ability to work independently under pressure.
• Able to accept, as well as to use authority, and able to work cooperatively and courteously with others including coworkers, supervisors, judges, court personnel, police officers, attorneys, prosecutors and staff members from public and private agencies.

Special Requirements:

Must have a bachelor’s degree with concentration in social/behavioral sciences, but graduate work or master’s degree is desirable AND:

• At least one year of interviewing and social/psychological diagnostic experience, preferably in the criminal justice system
• Possession of the abilities and skills outlined above
• Valid Washington State Driver's license
• Graduate course work or special education and work experience in the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism, other substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health may be substituted for work experience on a month-for-month basis.
• A new staff member must successfully complete the Correctional Services Academy training within six (6) months of employment as required by WAC 139-10-210.

Additional Information

• Selection process: Application materials will be screened for qualifications; the most competitive candidates will be invited for one or more panel interviews. Any employment offer will be contingent upon the results of a criminal background investigation and fingerprinting.

Work location: Your primary location will be Kent (MRJC); however, you may also be assigned to work at any District Court location, including Shoreline, Seattle, Redmond, Issaquah, Bellevue, Burien, or Auburn.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within commuting distance to the King County Courthouse to meet sporadic workplace reporting requirements.

• Work schedule: Regular, working a 40-hour workweek. Responsibilities occasionally may require additional working hours in order to meet deadlines. After hours, on-call support is required.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and move and/or lift up to 10 pounds.

The vision abilities required to perform this position include close vision.

• Working Conditions: Work is typically performed in an office environment with a moderate amount of noise (computers, printers, light traffic). This role routinely uses standard office equipment.
• Who may apply: This recruitment is open to all qualified applicants and may be used to fill current and or/future term-limited temporary positions over the next six months.

King County District Court is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

For more information regarding this position or application process, please contact:

Marwan Alqaysi
Human Resource Analyst
malqaysi@kingcounty.gov

Please include “Probation Officer” within the subject line.