Under general supervision, the Pretrial Officer is responsible for reviewing dockets for assigned courts and preparing pretrial paperwork to assist courts with pretrial release, supervision conditions, and other court-related processes. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Process all personal bonds, court orders and Public Safety Reports using JWEB and other systems to provide to the courts timely.
• Instruct, collect, and enter defendant information into case management system.
• Instruct and inform defendants about court dates and locations, rules, and conditions of release, and other obligations of pretrial release.
• Interact professionally, effectively, and harmoniously with other people by collaborating with and responding to inquiries from attorneys for defense and state and other court participants regarding defendant pretrial supervision related matters.
• May be required to testify in court.
• Review the docket for sequential review of in-custody defendants and initial court appearance conditions, present defendant compliance progress to assigned court, step-downs, and removal of conditions.
• Update defendant bond conditions and reporting intensity in case management system in coordination with supervision staff entering pertinent case notes regarding pretrial court activity.
• Review queue for pending pretrial related matters and address with court.
• Perform all tasks accurately and thoroughly within demanding time frames.
• Function effectively in a team environment and reliable team player by also serving as backup to other Judicial Liaison Officers as needed.
• Support call center and monitoring unit as needed.
• Perform other related duties and work overtime as required.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
 If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Counseling, or other closely related field from an accredited university or college

OR

• Bachelor's degree in any other field of study from an accredited university or college; with either:

  • One (1) year of full-time paid experience in a Criminal Justice setting OR

  • Two (2) years of volunteer experience in a Criminal Justice or Social Sciences setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bilingual in English & Spanish.

• Effective communications interaction, and organizational skills.
• Public speaking.
• Excellent documentation skills.
• Ability to perform tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Think strategically.
• Demonstrated tolerance for diverse populations.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Must be multi-functional, flexible, and self-motivated.
• Ability to obtain clearance based on a criminal history background check.

Functional Requirements:

• Must be multifunctional, flexible, and self-motivated.
• Working in an office setting, court, and jail with security restrictions and close proximity to defendants Court assignments will be rotated annually.
• Continuous computer use.
• Travel between office locations including inclement weather.
• All new employees are required to present evidence of a TB skin test prior to employment.

Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically (i.e. custodian, maintenance). 
 
 Automatic Disqualification:

• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor.
• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years.
• Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor)
• Family Violence conviction.

• One (1) year of full-time paid experience in a criminal justice setting or two (2) years of volunteer experience in a criminal justice or social sciences setting.
• One (1) year of customer service experience which includes interacting with the public and eliciting information.
• Experience with interviewing and report compilation preferred.