Probation Officer

Department Ride-Alongs

If you are interested in scheduling a Ride-Along to learn more about the Adult Probation Officer position, please email bcastaneda@sc.pima.gov.

Do you have the qualities of an Adult Probation Officer?

Our mission is to serve the court, to actively promote community safety, to facilitate positive behavioral change in probationers and to respect victim rights. In performing our mission, we recognize that employees are our most valuable resource, and we hold these essential core values: Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Compassion, Accountability, Creativity, Excellence.

Are you:

• Are you accountable for your actions and uphold strong moral principles?
• Someone that interacts well with others? Do you have the patience and empathy to support community members as they work on making positive changes in their lives?
• Someone who has good communication skills? Active listening, respect, and clarity are all expected from a probation officer. This includes both written and oral communication.
• Able to prioritize tasks and consistently meet deadlines? Being organized and efficient is key to being a successful probation officer. Candidates will be faced with multiple responsibilities throughout the day.
• Able to be flexible with your time? A probation officer works 80 hours per pay period to effectively monitor those on probation. This field of work will include nights and weekends to fulfill the required duties. While this schedule will not be strictly 8-5, probation officers are given flexible work schedules to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
• Respectful? Everyone has their own struggles. You will need to treat all the members of the community with kindness, compassion, and discipline.
• A person of good judgement? Probation officers must be able to exercise proper judgment at any given time. Critical thinking and quick decision making in stressful situations are part of the everyday life of a probation officer.

If you possess the qualities stated above and want to make a positive impact on your community, we invite you to apply today!

• Performs closely structured supervision and observation concerning compliance with conditions of probation, including directing and counseling the probationer and conducting field contacts (home, work, treatment facilities, community restitution or jail) as a member of a team.
• Obtains, assembles, secures, keeps and files a complete identification record concerning the person on probation including arrest reports, contact notes regarding compliance with terms of probation and case plan to prepare written reports for the court.
• Builds relationships to encourage compliance with the case plan including conditions of probation through frequent telephone contacts, work site contacts, day, and evening home contacts.
• Directs and/or refers probationers to community resources, treatments or other interventions based on assessments, behaviors and conditions of probation.
•  Participates in case review conferences to determine if change in level of supervision is warranted.
• Performs searches, breathalyzers/urinalysis collection, and makes a documented effort to locate absconders.
• Serves warrants, makes arrests, and brings persons before the court who are on probation including defaulting probationers facing revocation. Probation officers have the authority of peace officers in the performance of his or her duties.
• Appears and testifies in court.
• Monitors payment of restitution and probation fees and ensures victims' notification rights are provided according to statutory requirements.
• In confrontational situations with probationers or others, appropriately and effectively responds and uses defensive tactics and techniques, as learned at the Defensive Tactics Safety Training Academy, when necessary.
• Performs and demonstrates through proficiency testing, competency in, and an understanding of physical and verbal defensive tactics and techniques, including the following, or their comparable alternatives: 1) Forcefully raise arms above head (straight arm wristlock and takedown), 2) Perform minor aerobic activity, 3) Stand for up to 2 hours at a time, 4) Engage in balanced movements, 5) Throw hand strikes (fist strikes and palm heel strikes), 6) Use impact weapons (ability to swing arms in a striking action with a baton that weighs 16 ounces), 7) Kick at targets below 24" (front snap kicks), 8) Perform controlled falls and return to standing position unassisted (break falls and recovery), 9) Complete hand strikes and kick drills at partial speed, 10) Sustain exposure to Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray, 11) Engage in fighting techniques while on the ground, 12) Be able to bend knees lower center and touch the ground with one hand (break fall recovery and baton closing technique), 13) Be able to bend knees to a 45 degree angle (all ground techniques).
• Investigates cases referred to the officer and makes a written report to the court.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Be a United States citizen or legal resident.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Have a bachelor's degree with a preference in the behavioral sciences or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Be a minimum age of twenty-one (21) years.
• Complete background/reference checks, interviews, polygraph and/or drug testing, and pre- employment psychological examinations.
• Must successfully complete 40-hour Defensive Tactics Training Academy as soon as practical, but no later than 120 days from the date of employment [see ACJA 6-107(G)].
• Must demonstrate, by proficiency testing, competency and understanding of the physical and verbal techniques and tactics presented at the Defensive Tactics Training Academy.
• Must successfully complete eight (8) hours of defensive tactics refresher training on an annual basis.
• Must maintain certificate of successful completion of defensive tactics training.
• Must successfully complete the Probation Certification Academy and Intensive Probation Institute, if assigned, within the first twelve (12) months of employment [see ACJA 6- 107(F)].
• Must submit to a medical examination required by Corrections Officer Retirement Plan.