Supervising Probation Corrections Officer

Posting number: 26/07-3114-O

Department: Probation Department (PRB)

Job classification: SUPERVISING PROBATION CORRECTIONS OFFICER

Posting type: Open

Categories: Probation

Summary

Bring your probation corrections experience to the County of Sonoma Probation Department! 

Starting salary up to $49.23/hour ($102,748/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

Starting salary up to $61.34/hour ($128,023/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

As a Supervising Probation Corrections Officer, you will coordinate the daily operations of the juvenile detention facility by providing leadership and guidance to Probation Corrections Officers while ensuring the safety and security of staff and youth. In this role, you will ensure facility operations comply with Title 15 regulations, department policies, and apply evidence-based practices in programming for residents. Additional responsibilities include:

• Evaluating staff performance and providing coaching and development
• Coordinating staffing assignments, maintaining staffing levels, and managing leave coverage 
• Implementing department initiatives and ensuring operational procedures are consistently followed
• Providing consultation and direction during complex incidents, emergencies, and case planning
• Reviewing and approving incident reports for accuracy and completeness
• Attending supervisory and facility meetings to communicate operational priorities and addressing facility needs
• Collaborating with law enforcement, community-based organizations, criminal justice partners, and other stakeholders

As the ideal candidate, you will possess many of the following:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in a probation corrections, juvenile justice, or closely related environment
• Knowledge of Title 15 regulations, juvenile detention facility operations, and evidence-based practices
• Experience reviewing reports, risk assessments, and making sound operational decisions
• Strong leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to hold staff accountable
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentations
• The ability to build productive working relationships with staff, law enforcement, the courts, community partners, and individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience using justice information systems, case management systems, assessment tools, and Microsoft Office applications
• A commitment to professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

The Probation Department

The Probation Department is committed to enhancing community safety and improving lives through evidence-based practices that help individuals develop the skills needed to overcome challenges, make positive choices, and achieve long-term success. Working collaboratively with community partners, the department connects clients to valuable services and resources, including education, employment assistance, treatment programs, and housing support. As a vital partner in the justice system, Probation promotes accountability, supports victims, provides critical information to the courts, and works alongside law enforcement and community organizations to build safer, healthier communities.

Probation Full-Length Video (English)Probation Full-Length Video (Spanish)

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $940 annual payment, and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This recruitment is currently being conducted to fill a full-time Supervising Probation Corrections Officer position in the Probation Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. 
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed. 
Examples of dutiesExperience and Education: Any combination of experience, education, and training which would provide the required knowledge and abilities listed.  A typical way to qualify is: completion of two years of full-time experience equivalent to the level of Senior Probation Corrections Officer in the County of Sonoma or four years full-time experience in a position equivalent or closely related to a Probation Corrections Officer II with the County of Sonoma. 

Additional Requirements: In accordance with California Government Code, Section 1029 - 1031, and the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 131, Minimum Standards for Selection, each employee shall meet the following minimum standards: Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law; have no prior felony conviction nor be under current formal probation supervision; and achieved a passing score on the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) selection written exam, or equivalent, and successfully completed the Juvenile Correctional Officer Core Course prior to appointment.

Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete finger printing, an in-depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation,  criminal history check, medical examination, and physical agility testing.

Candidates must be willing to wear a uniform, work non-traditional hours, and different work shifts, including weekends and holidays. Candidates may be required to work overtime and cannot leave the facility unless relieved.

Incumbents in the Supervising Probation Corrections Officer classification are Peace Officers defined as by Penal Code Section 830.5.  Existing law requires Peace Officers to meet specific minimum standards, including age (21 years at time of appointment) and educational requirements. Incumbents newly hired must successfully complete Penal Code 832 Arrest and Control training and the California Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) Supervisor Core Course within one year of appointment.     

Those appointed to this class shall serve a probation period of one year. 

License: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid California Class C driver’s license is required by date of hire and must be maintained throughout employment in this classification.

The position advertised on this announcement requires possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
 

QualificationsKnowledge of: evidence-based practices; trauma-informed care; factors that influence human behavior, particularly as they related to child development, transitional aged youth development, and personality; recreational activities commonly enjoyed by youth and young adults; the laws, practices, and procedures pertinent to the detention and custody of youth and young adults; child abuse reporting laws; first-aid techniques and practices; CPR; personal hygiene techniques and methods for instructing residents in maintaining proper self-care; Probation justice database systems and other technology used in the facility; behavior patterns, motivation, and group and family dynamics; the methods and techniques of individual and group counseling within a correctional institution setting; methods of conflict resolution; de-escalation tactics; engagement and coaching principles; accepted methods used to modify behavior; departmental policies, procedures, and functions; principles and methods of detention and care of residents; management and supervisory techniques that motivate and encourage the efficiency and productivity of staff and residents.

Ability to: coordinate and direct the work activities of Probation Corrections Officers and residents; apply techniques of effective supervision; evaluate the behavior and performance of assigned staff and residents; apply techniques of effective supervision; ensure that staff supervises and directs residents during educational, work, meal, and programming activities; establish and maintain the respect of residents, including engaging with residents who may suffer from mental health conditions; deliver news or information to staff, other professionals, and residents that may be difficult or undesirable; maintain firm control in individual and group situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, health and social service providers, families, law enforcement agencies, other County departments, and the public; effectively communicate orally and in writing, listen actively; have constructive conversations over work related issues; read and comprehend instructions and standards and apply them to a variety of situations; make and record detailed observations; write descriptive narratives, including incident, court, or other reports; exercise good judgment and adopt effective courses of action in emergency situations; integrate new technical skills and knowledge; problem solve, think critically, prioritize, and work under pressure; be flexible, dependable, and adapt to changing situations; identify officer safety issues; recognize malfunctioning/broken items and submit written report for repair; troubleshoot technology problems and implement known fixes to technology based equipment; de-escalate interactions with residents who are highly emotional and aggressive; understand and accept differences in human behavior; effectively interact with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, generational, and socio-economic backgrounds; direct the activities of Probation Corrections Officers; apply first aid; provide clear and concise oral explanations of situations that have transpired; train and coach staff in all aspects of their job responsibilities while maintaining other expected duties; establish credibility and persuade others; effectively subdue, restrain, and control residents for the safety and protection of themselves and others; defend against attacks from residents; maintain composure in a stressful environment. Supplemental information

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.

All candidates will be required to take a pre-employment medical examination. The pre-employment medical examination will include drug testing as part of the medical examination for all applicants and for all current employees who are offered employment with the Offices/Departments. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed, and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior, and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: KK