Probation Officer

Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting.  We strive to create a welcoming environment for all staff, volunteers, and members of our community. 

Purpose/summary of the position:
Performs complex, professional, administrative, and technical work in providing caseload supervision for both juvenile and adult defendants placed on probation.  monitors additional compliance cases as referred by the Court.  Manages the daily operations of the Probation Department.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:  

• Supervise defendants who have been sentenced to probation, deferred judgment and deferred prosecution. Supervision is provided through face-to-face meetings, telephone contacts, review of mail in reports, video conferencing, and review of case files. 
• Track and monitor defendants’ court ordered conditions in cases referred by the Court through interviews investigation, and assessments.  File petitions to revoke and testify at revocation hearings.  
• Assess defendants’ needs and behavior throughout supervision; formulate case plans with goal of establishing pro-social behavior and repairing harm caused to the community and victims. Motivate and manage the offender’s probation period using a continuum of sanctions and incentives using professional discretion.   May collaborate probation activities with County, State and Social Services agencies.
• Maintain a list of resources and eligibility requirements for services available to defendants and find applicable resources for defendants, including making referrals to community resources and services.
• Appear in Court for probation or compliance hearings to testify about status and progress of defendant, to make recommendations to modify terms and conditions of sentence, and to recommend sanctions.  
• Coordinate, enroll, and monitor defendants in electronic monitoring programs, county work crew programs and drug/alcohol testing. 
• Enters and maintains electronic probation files; provides probation records to judges, attorneys, defendants, service providers, families, and victims in accordance with State Archives requirements, Municipal Court Records Retention Schedule, and State Statutes addressing sealed and expunged case requirements
• Compile, maintain, and prepare statistical records relating to probation.
• Research criminal history and defendant records using various data bases including National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC), Colorado State Courts-Data Access, Denver County Court-Government Access, Reliatrax Unified Network and Sentry; and adhere to strict guidelines for proper use, distribution, and destruction of information obtained; adhere to training, testing and certification requirements while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Develop processes and procedures pursuant to new laws and sentencing requirements; stay abreast of best practices and changes impacting probation supervision.
• Conduct pre-sentence investigations and prepare written report for Court outlining pertinent information and recommend a course of action considering public safety when making sentencing recommendations
• May assist with administrative duties for Municipal Court when requested and act as Court representative on citywide committees.

Supervision Received/Provided:
Works under the direct supervision of the Court Administrator.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:

Experience & Education

• Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree with major course work in criminal justice, social sciences, psychology, sociology, or a closely related field.
• Experience:   Two (2) years of experience in probation supervision
• License or Certification:   
• Substitutions: Six (6) years of experience in probation supervision may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree and two years of experience.
• Background check: Must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, fingerprinting, and receive CCIC certification within six (6) months of hire.  Pursuant to state law, a person with any felony conviction shall not be hired for this position.  Misdemeanor convictions which demonstrated a lack of integrity or offenses involving moral turpitude may also be disqualified.

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodations for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office.