Field Team Unit Community Supervision Officer

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Reports directly to: Field Unit Manager

The nature of the Field Unit Supervision Officer requires that the Bexar County CSCD Field Unit be comprised of technically competent, highly motivated, and disciplined Supervision Officers who are capable of meeting exacting supervision and proficiency standards, who can maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct, and who can perform their duties in a positive and team oriented manner. The Field Team Unit Community Supervision Officer within this Department serves at the Court/Unit level and is selected by a Panel which may include Manager’s and Assistant Chief’s after having met the requisite education, training, and experience criteria set out in this job description. The individual is not responsible for the supervision of employees. Applicant is hired under the legal doctrine of employment at will.

SUMMARY: Responsible for the effective supervision of offenders placed on community supervision. Case supervision must be conducted in a manner consistent with TDCJ-CJAD (Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Community Justice Assistance Division) standards and as envisioned by the Chief Probation Officer.

All FSO’s will be required carry a handgun while on duty and performing Community Supervision related fieldwork. The FSO must purchase a handgun and ammunition that meets the requirements established in CJAD Standard 163.34 (k) d.

Assignment to the Field Team will be contingent upon meeting and maintaining:

• Adherence to established policies, procedures and safety requirements; and
• Established physical and performance requirements; and
• Established training standards/proficiency; and
• Established Federal, State, CJAD and CSCD eligibility requirements to carry a firearm as a Community Supervision Officer while on duty; and
• Availability for evening, weekend and holiday coverage.

Field Team CSO’s may also be required to purchase field attire and/or equipment as needed for this position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Requires each officer to be proficient at administering/scoring the Texas Assessment Risk System (TRAS) interviews;

· Must be able to maintain a caseload of misdemeanor/felony mentally impaired individuals adhering to all CJAD, Department, and Court requirements;

· Responsible for monitoring the offender’s compliance with the orders of the Court through routine office and field contacts to ensure community safety;

· Responsible for assisting the offender in locating services needed to bring about pro-social, law abiding behavior;

· Responsible for use of Evidence Based Practices (EBP) approach with probationers to provide good advice/information, establish rapport, and to create a collaborative tone in the interaction;

· Responsible for utilizing the department’s progressive sanctions, incentives model, and reinforcing probationer’s pro-social behavior and consistently affirming positive efforts taken by probationers;

· Responsible for making probationer referrals to appropriate programs and resources;

· Responsible for conducting assessments and individualized case supervision plans;

· Responsible for Chronos which incorporate primary domains indicated by the TRAS and problem statement as indicated in case supervision plan;

· Responsible for reviewing the probationers collection of fees status on a regular basis;

· Responsible for ensuring case file documents and records are scanned into Case Management System (CSS);

· Responsible for reporting violations of probation to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner;

· Responsible for transporting offenders in accordance with Department policy and procedures or pursuant to lawful court order;

· Develops and maintains case records by assuring each record contains chronological recordings of all significant actions, decisions, services rendered, assessments, re-assessments Pre-sentence investigations, periodic evaluations and written criminal history;

• Responsible for conducting extensive field compliance checks (field visits) on designated Felony and Misdemeanor Offenders that reside in Bexar County;

• Technically competent, highly motivated, and disciplined supervision officers who is capable of meeting exacting supervision and proficiency standards, who can maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct, and who can perform duties in a positive and team oriented manner;
• Must be able to meet and maintain adherence to established policies, procedures and safety requirements; physical and performance requirements; and established trainings and proficiency;

· Required to carry a firearm while on duty as approved by the Chief Probation Officer;

· Capable of meeting/sustaining requirements under Department, CJAD, State, and Federal policies regarding firearms;

· Able to work evening, weekend, and holiday fieldwork assignments;

· Conduct file and database research for each offender to be visited in the field and prepare field data packets;

· Develop and maintain Field Threat Assessments for each offender and neighborhood;

· Develop routes, itinerary and contingency plans for each visit; inspect and prepare field equipment and vehicle for field work;

· Responsible for updating CSS with field contact data,

· Maintain a close relationship with each Court and its officers, testify in court when needed, and maintain proficiency with case management requirements;

· Must understand and comply with the Department field policy and conduct and complete all fieldwork in a timely, safe, and effective manner working within the scope of authority of either the Contact or Cover Supervision Officer during each field visit and understand the role and responsibility of each;

· Must properly document contacts and activities and forward to the appropriate CSO, provide positive supervision and direction to offenders, and maintain familiarity with social/treatment agencies and the referral process;

· Maintains confidentiality; treats PSI (pre-sentence investigation) and all information obtained in connection with the PSI reports as confidential and releases this information only to persons authorized by law and directed by the court for the effective supervision of the offender; insures medical and psychiatric records obtained by the court are sealed or kept separate from offenders case files; releases such information only by order of the court;

· Must be able to communicate effectively with hostile, abusive or irrational individuals, family members, and associates; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, County employees and the general public;

· Contributes to team effort by accomplishing other related duties as needed.

KNOWLEDGE

Must be knowledgeable in TRAS, completion of TAIP evaluation, PSI, and possess exceptional case management and interview skills;

· Proficient knowledge of supervision practices and procedures;

· Proficient knowledge of evidence based practices (EBP) approach to probation;

· General knowledge of the departmental progressive sanctions model;

· Working knowledge of CSS;

· Must be physically and mentally capable of managing a High Risk caseload and conducting related field contacts;

· Must have the ability to diffuse situations and re-direct negative behavior;

· Must have a keen sense of awareness to and select appropriate responses to potentially dangerous situations;

• Able to professionally and effectively communicate with probationers and their family or associates;
• Familiar with available community referral/treatment assets and the referral process;
• General knowledge in operating Windows-based word processing, spreadsheet, and data base software.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

A Bachelor’s degree conferred by an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The degree should be in criminal justice.

· TRAS Certified is required.

· CJAD Certified CSO with three (3) years’ experience is highly desirable;

· Demonstrated duty performance above standards and free from adverse action;

· Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable;

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Includes lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs. occasionally; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand an eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting and handling to perform the essential job functions;
• Physically capable of performing extensive fieldwork that may require frequent operating and exiting of a vehicle, physically exiting of a vehicle, sitting, bending, kneeling, lifting, running or jumping;
• Physically, mentally and emotionally capable of conducting Probation fieldwork in stressful and potentially high risk environments and all types of weather;
• Physically capable of retaining a personal firearm if approved by the Chief Probation Officer and necessary in the performance of your duties;
• Capable of meeting/sustaining requirements under the Department, CJAD, State, and Federal policies governing Firearms;
• Physically capable of defending yourself, or a 3rd party in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Texas Penal Code and Department Policy;
• Physically capable of quickly, and safely, disengaging from a hostile environment;
• Applicant must possess a valid Texas Driver’s license. Applicant must pass and maintain a favorable criminal background check. Applicant must clear a pre-employment physical and urinalysis test.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Working conditions are inside and outside an office environment;
• Field supervision officer duties involve both traditional office and field contact with offenders or other persons, throughout Bexar County, during traditional and nontraditional work days/hours and in all types of weather;
• Field related duty may be stressful and might pose a possible threat to the field supervision officer’s safety;
• Contact with offenders and other persons may be hostile, dangerous, threatening, armed, and aggressive and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Works with offenders who have been convicted of felony and/or misdemeanor offenses;
• Field supervision officers will come in contact with criminal courts, courthouse personnel, law enforcement and community agencies;

· Cannot be on any medications that may impair judgment, dull responses or preclude operating vehicles/equipment;

· Ability to recognize a potentially hostile/dangerous situations and to develop an appropriate response;

· Ability to document all field related activities to established standards;

· Applicant may be required to work more than 40 hours during the workweek.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $3,166.80 - $3,544.40 per month

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• San Antonio, TX 78207: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: One location