Job Abstract

Exciting opportunity for an experienced professional in juvenile probation!

The Arlington Juvenile Court Services Unit (CSU) is seeking a Probation Counselor to work in the Detention Diversion/Electronic Monitoring Program. This position will provide intensive supervision and conduct intake interviews to a caseload of juveniles who have been placed by the Court in the Detention Diversion Program/Electronic Monitoring (DDP/EM.) This position will also provide counseling and coaching to youth and parents to promote behavior change using cognitive-behavioral interventions and techniques.

The DDP is a short-term alternative to secure detention for juvenile offenders and monitors their compliance with home-detention and mandatory school attendance. Compliance is monitored through daily contact with youth and frequent contact with parents, school officials and other professionals. There are three counselors assigned to the DDP who will coordinate the work schedule that consists of weekday afternoons and evenings.

Specific duties include:

• Making announced and unannounced visits to homes, schools, and other community locations;
• Installing and removing EM devices and holding clients accountable and supporting their compliance with the conditions to the court orders and rules of DDP/EM;
• Performing drug screens to assess drug use and connecting them to substance abuse services if needed;
• Advocating and responding to crisis situations for their clients in the school setting and in the community in general;
• Coordinating and facilitating a specialized programs such as a Basics of Safe Driving Class;
• Making referrals to service providers and community-based services such as substance use, behavioral health, family counseling, therapy, etc.;
• Maintaining daily interaction with teachers, treatment professionals, and any other professionals involved with clients;
• Presenting cases and providing written and verbal testimony to the court and providing information and recommendations to prosecutors, defense attorneys, and guardians-ad-litem;
• Updating client information databases such as BADGE to document all communication with clients and submitting closing summaries for clients who have been released from the DDP/EM program; and
• Assisting teammates and supporting inter-departmental agencies such as Young Achievers, Girls’ Outreach, Argus House, Aurora House, Arlington Public Schools, and Department of Human Services, etc.

• Knowledge and understanding of the Court system;
• Knowledge of causes of delinquent behavior and various community resources, particularly those dealing with substance abuse and mental health counseling;
• Knowledge of Electronic Monitoring supervision; and
• Knowledge and experience in the use of the Virginia DJJ Caseload Management System (BADGE).

Minimum:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish);
• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or related field; and
• Considerable experience providing probation, social work, crisis intervention, or family counseling including at least one year which required working within a legal/court/probation environment.

• Providing probation services within the juvenile justice system;
• Interviewing juveniles involved in the justice system and their parents;
• Counseling troubled youth and their families, who may be in crisis;
• Conducting risk assessments on youth, such as the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI); and/or
• Training and Experience in evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral interventions with clients, for use in community supervision and probation.

An assessment of verbal Spanish (or second language) proficiency would be required before a candidate can be appointed to a bilingual position (English/Spanish, etc.). The incumbent in a bilingual position would receive the language pay premium on all hours worked and on paid leave hours.

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid driver's license or must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide, a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record and criminal background checks.

The pay ranges listed above are effective June 30, 2024.

Work hours: This is a 40-hour per week Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. position with one telework day.

The official title for this position is Probation Counselor II.

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.

The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.