About Job

Important Notice

Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) Court is seeking a Probation Counselor II to join the Juvenile Probation Unit of the Court Services Unit. This position is responsible for investigating juvenile delinquent cases, developing treatment/probation plans, and preparing and maintaining reports and records. Services are provided to an ethnically diverse population of whom many speak Spanish and have limited English speaking skills.

The Juvenile Probation Unit’s mission is to provide the Court with investigation and supervision services which promote behavioral change and accountability in youth.

Specific duties include:

Conducting investigations and assessments of delinquent, Children in Need of Supervision/Services (CHINS) and custody cases including social and legal history;
Attending court hearings and testifying in court;
Monitoring compliance with court orders;
Counseling clients and family members;
Consulting with treatment professionals, such as psychologists or counselors;
Making referrals to appropriate programs, treatments, or services;
Preparing legal documents, correspondence, pre-sentence reports and memos; and
Maintaining probation records.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

Knowledge of the criminal justice system including court proceedings and knowledge of causes of delinquent behavior and various community resources, particularly those dealing with substance abuse and mental health counseling;
A high level of attention to detail;
Ability to make thoughtful and independent decisions; and
Ability to interpret and apply regulations, guidelines, and statutes.

Minimum Qualifications:

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

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year for year basis.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

Bilingual ability in English and Spanish.
Probation or intake experience in the juvenile court system;
Training and experience using motivational interviewing techniques;
Experience with the BADGE data entry system and Youth Assessment Tools such as the YASI;
Counseling youth with social, emotional, and conduct problems and counseling parent(s) in complex family systems; and/or
Training and experience using evidence-based interventions in a community supervision setting such as the Risk, Need, Responsivity model.

Special Requirements

A pre-employment criminal record check will be conducted to include: National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check, Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) background check, FBI fingerprints, and a Virginia Department of Social Services Child Protective Services Central Registry Search.

Driver’s License - Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicants driving record.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Additional Information

Work hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

The official title of this position is Probation Counselor II.

For more information on Arlington’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs . Learn more about our commitment.

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