GUILFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
This position provides information-gathering and administrative duties for the Court Services program, including screening, research tasks regarding criminal defendants, as well as some case management. Conducts jail intake interviews, coordinates referrals for assessments or other services, orally presents information gathered to the court, and monitors defendants to ensure compliance with conditions of pretrial release. Reports to the Court Services Program Manager.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
Employees in this class primarily produce reports for First Appearance Court each day by interviewing jailed defendants scheduled for first appearance in District Court; verifying information acquired by contacting family, friends, employers, and victims; thoroughly researching case and custody status as well as any criminal record or data discrepancies; preparing files and orally presenting the information to the court each day for consideration of bond and pretrial release conditions. In addition, these employees coordinate a wide variety of activities between the jails, courts and community and/or governmental agencies. Work may be checked for effectiveness by a Court Services Specialist II while in progress. A small number of eligible defendants are released for monitoring by Court Services to help ensure attendance on court dates and promote compliance with other pretrial release conditions. This employee must be able to work independently with minimal supervision and must have the ability to interpret and apply statutes and other judicial procedures. This employee must be able to orally present information in a courtroom setting.

Examples of Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Duties and Tasks

• Interviews incarcerated defendants at the local jails each day.
• Obtains information regarding community ties from jailed defendants and completes court paperwork.
• Researches defendants' criminal histories through local, state, and national criminal records systems and analyzes individual case status and record level.
• Attends court each day to orally present Court Services' reports on defendants and to document the court's decisions regarding the defendants' bonds, pretrial release conditions, and any follow-up tasks required by the court.
• Coordinates on a wide variety of activities between the jail and courts and community and/or governmental agencies.
• Monitors criminal defendants as ordered by the court in lieu of continued incarceration to ensure compliance with specific pretrial release conditions set by the courts and standard conditions of Court Services.
• Documents all defendant activities including client contacts, court involvement, community contacts and outreach efforts.
• Coordinates the scheduling of criminal court hearings to report defendants back to court for noncompliance with the conditions of the Court Services Agreement; prepares written report and presents orally in both District and Superior Courts.
• Maintains records and compiles data for statistical reports, monthly, quarterly and yearly.

RECRUITMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of pretrial release and criminal justice system procedures; courtroom protocol and bond hearing procedures; jail policies and procedures; Clerk of Court procedures; and community resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and written with Jail and Judicial personnel.
• Ability to work within strict daily time constraints while being flexible to last minute changes;
• Ability to make objective reports to the court; work with accuracy when verifying criminal records and personal defendant information,
• Ability to interview defendants effectively to obtain pertinent information; explain to defendants the importance of compliance with all pretrial conditions;
• Ability to use computer systems to retrieve and input information, maintain data for statistical reports, and effectively provide assistance to other program employees.

Typical Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from a four-year college or university, preferably in related field and one year of experience working in criminal courts, criminal legal field, criminal investigations, or defendant based community programs; OR

Associate’s degree, preferably in a related field and three years of experience working in criminal courts, criminal legal field, criminal investigations, or defendant based community; OR

High School Diploma or GED and five years of experience working in criminal courts, criminal legal field, criminal investigations, or defendant based community. Applicants must possess excellent communication skills and be able to work effectively with a wide range of individuals. Excellent computer skills required to effectively retrieve and input information.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and one year of actual court experience, providing information to the courts both orally and in written form.

Guilford County is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to employees and applicants for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or political affiliation. The County is committed to complying with all applicable federal, state and local laws that pertain to employment, and to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination of any kind. If you need an auxiliary aide, make the request forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time the accommodation is needed by calling 336-641-3324.