OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER
DEPARTMENT: JUVENILE PROBATION AND COURT SERVICES
GRADE: 24
SALARY: $195,000 OR COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
LOCATION: COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
**POSTING CLOSES: 5PM JULY 17, 2026**
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department (Juvenile Probation) is one of the largest juvenile probation departments in the country, overseeing an active caseload of approximately 2,000 youth — including approximately 1,000 on pretrial supervision — and a staff of approximately 330. The department administers a wide range of services and programs including probation supervision, pretrial and pre-sentence services, electronic monitoring, shelter care, and community-based programming.
Under the direction of the Director of Juvenile Services, the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer (Chief) is the chief executive of Juvenile Probation and bears full operational and strategic responsibility for the department. The Chief is accountable for the outcomes of youth on the department's caseload, the professional development of staff, and the department's compliance with applicable law, standards, and court orders.
The Chief is not only a department administrator — this is a reform leader. Juvenile Probation has been the subject of significant external review, and is expected to implement broader best-practice reforms in supervision practice, diversion, community engagement, and youth- and family-centered service delivery. The Chief must be equally capable of managing a high-volume, complex department and driving sustained practice and culture change within it.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Departmental Operations and Compliance
1. Directs all aspects of Juvenile Probation operations, including supervision, pretrial services, pre-sentence investigations, electronic monitoring, shelter care, community-based programming, use of assessment tools, fiscal management, human resources, and administrative functions, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across all units.
2. Ensures the department operates in full compliance with all applicable statutes, court orders, judicial directives, state regulations, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) standards, and nationally recognized best practices in juvenile probation and court services.
3. Establishes and maintains effective systems for records management, data integrity, and reporting; provides accurate, timely reports on youth outcomes, caseload data, program participation, and other required metrics to the Director of Juvenile Services and court leadership.
4. Manages contracts with vendors and service providers in communication with the Director of Procurement and JTDC Superintendent (when appropriate); monitors contract performance; and ensures service delivery quality meets departmental standards and youth needs.
Reform Implementation and Best Practices
5. Leads implementation of best practices and other applicable reform directives; develops implementation plans with clear milestones, accountability mechanisms, and progress metrics; and reports regularly to the Director of Juvenile Services on reform status.
6. Embeds nationally recognized best practices into all aspects of probation practice, including risk-needs-responsivity (RNR) principles, validated assessment tools, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed supervision, and positive youth development frameworks.
7. Drives culture and practice change within Juvenile Probation to shift toward a youth- and family-centered model that prioritizes diversion, community-based alternatives to supervision, and the least restrictive interventions consistent with community safety.
8. Develops and implements data-driven strategies for the prevention of delinquency, reduction of recidivism, and promotion of youth success in school, family, and community — grounded in current research and evidence-based practice.
9. Maintains active awareness of current trends, research, and emerging best practices in juvenile probation and justice reform nationally; translates relevant developments into departmental policy, supervision practice, and staff training; and participates in peer learning networks and professional convenings.
Youth and Family Services
10. Ensures that services for youth and families are culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, and individualized to the assessed needs and strengths of each young person; establishes mechanisms for youth and family voice in case planning and departmental programming.
11. Plans and develops service programs designed to protect the community, prevent delinquency, reduce recidivism, keep youth connected to school and family, and build competency and resilience in justice-involved youth.
12. Ensures robust reentry and aftercare planning for youth transitioning from detention or residential placement back to the community; collaborates with JTDC leadership, community providers, schools, and families to ensure continuity of support.
13. Develops and maintains strong diversion pathways and community-based alternatives to formal supervision, including partnerships with community organizations, restorative justice programs, and family support services.
Staff Leadership, Accountability, and Development
14. Leads a large, complex workforce across multiple units and locations; establishes clear performance expectations; conducts or oversees formal evaluations; and ensures timely corrective action when standards are not met.
15. Directs recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention of qualified probation officers and support staff; builds a workforce that reflects the communities served and is committed to the department's reform mission.
16. Develops and implements a comprehensive staff training and professional development program that builds competency in evidence-based supervision practice, trauma-informed approaches, cultural responsiveness, motivational interviewing, and professional ethics; ensures training is ongoing and tied to performance expectations.
17. Promotes a workplace culture of professionalism, accountability, and genuine commitment to youth well-being and community safety; addresses staff misconduct promptly and consistently; and models the values and behaviors expected of all staff.
Policy, Data, and Continuous Improvement
18. Develops and implements data-driven goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department; reviews and updates policies regularly to reflect evolving law, standards, and reform commitments.
19. Establishes and maintains a performance management framework for Juvenile Probation, including key metrics for supervision quality, youth outcomes, diversion rates, recidivism, compliance, and staff performance; uses data to drive continuous quality improvement.
20. Monitors department performance against established benchmarks; identifies deficiencies; develops and implements corrective action plans; and reports performance data and improvement progress to the Director of Juvenile Services.
Budget and Fiscal Management
21. Prepares and administers Juvenile Probation's annual budget, subject to the approval of the Director of Juvenile Services; ensures expenditures are aligned with mission, strategic priorities, and fiscal accountability standards.
22. Identifies resource needs and gaps; develops proposals for addressing them; and ensures effective utilization of available resources, including state and federal funding streams, to sustain and expand quality services.
Collaboration and External Relations
23. Works collaboratively with the Superintendent of the JTDC and JTDC leadership to ensure coordinated, seamless services for youth across the detention-to-community continuum; participates in joint planning, shared programming, and cross-system initiatives.
24. Works collaboratively with, and promptly responds to concerns raised by, the Presiding Judges of the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions; escalates issues requiring Director-level attention.
25. Promotes acceptance of departmental goals and objectives through active collaboration with juvenile judges, JTDC leadership, and community-based partners; represents the department in relevant convenings and forums with dignity, integrity, and a spirit of cooperation.
26. Maintains strong working relationships with Illinois Redeploy, Illinois deferred prosecution programs, Chicago Public Schools, and other key system partners; leads joint planning efforts to expand community-based alternatives and reduce reliance on detention and formal court involvement.
27. Engages youth, families, and community stakeholders as partners in the department's reform and improvement efforts; establishes accessible mechanisms for raising concerns and providing input.
28. Identifies and in collaboration with the Director of Juvenile Services, acts upon proactive opportunities to enhance public transparency regarding JPD operations, programs, engagement of youth and families, and outcomes
29. Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Juvenile Services consistent with the executive operational scope of this role.
The duties listed above are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
As established by the Illinois Supreme Court through the AOIC, the minimum qualifications are as follows:
1. A master's degree in management, public administration, criminal justice, social services, or a related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in juvenile probation, court services, or a related field, at least three (3) of which are at a supervisory or administrative level, with at least two (2) of those years in juvenile probation or residential services.
OR
2. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social services, or a related field, and at least seven (7) years of experience in juvenile probation, court services, or a related field, with at least four (4) years at a supervisory or administrative level, including at least two (2) years in juvenile probation or residential services.
AND
3. United States Citizenship.
4. Primary residence in the State of Illinois within 90 days of the date of appointment.
5. Pass a pre-employment medical exam, drug screen, and background check, and professional references.
6. A negative result from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services child abuse registry.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Demonstrated experience leading reform implementation in a juvenile probation, court services, or youth-serving system, including adoption of evidence-based supervision practices, risk-needs-responsivity frameworks, or diversion-first models.
2. Demonstrated experience with validated risk and needs assessment tools (e.g., YLS/CMI, ORAS-YV) and their integration into supervision practice and case planning.
3. Certification or demonstrated training in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, or restorative justice.
4. Experience implementing recommendations from external reviews, oversight bodies, or system reform processes.
5. Demonstrated familiarity with Cook County and/or Circuit Court administrative policies, budgeting processes, and labor relations frameworks.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES-
Comprehensive knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of the juvenile justice system, including probation, supervision, pretrial services, diversion, and community-based programming.
-
Comprehensive knowledge of nationally recognized best practices in juvenile probation, including evidence-based supervision, risk-needs-responsivity, trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and restorative approaches.
-
Demonstrated executive leadership experience overseeing complex, multi-unit operations and large workforces, including through periods of significant change.
-
Proven ability to lead reform and culture change in a large public-sector department — including developing implementation plans, holding staff accountable, and sustaining change over time.
-
Strong data literacy and ability to use performance data and youth outcome metrics to drive operational and supervisory decisions, identify deficiencies, and demonstrate progress.
-
Demonstrated knowledge of juvenile justice law, statutes, court rules, regulations, and policy applicable to probation and court services in Illinois.
-
Knowledge of principles and practices of social service delivery, including crisis intervention, particularly in relation to youth and families involved in the justice system.
-
Ability to work effectively with youth and families from diverse backgrounds; demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive, equitable practice.
-
Administrative skill in goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, and management of staff across multiple levels of supervision.
-
Principles and practices of developing teams, motivating employees, and managing in a complex team environment.
-
Principles and practices of budget development, administration, and fiscal accountability in a public-sector setting.
-
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with court leadership, staff, youth and families, elected officials, advocates, and the public.
-
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, including with judges, community partners, and oversight bodies.
-
Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) and ability to leverage technology to support operations, supervision practice, and data management.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS-
Ability to sit or stand at a desk and view a computer screen for extended periods.
-
Ability to move around facilities, office suites, courthouses, and other locations as required.
-
Ability to intermittently twist to reach equipment and supplies.
-
Ability to perform simple grasping and fine manipulation.
-
Strength to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
-
Ability to use a telephone and computer.
This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.
Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.
Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page. Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page.
THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To: Director of Juvenile Services
Directs Work Of: All Juvenile Probation and Court Services staff (~330 employees)
Key Peer Relationship: Superintendent, Juvenile Temporary Detention Center
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
sFdHIAuDoL
