Launch your career in criminal justice as a Probation Assistant!
Starting salary up to $37.72/hour ($78,726/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
As Probation Assistants, you will provide administrative support to Probation Officers while helping maintain a safe, organized, and client-focused environment. In this role, you will interact with clients and the public, support evidence-based programming, monitor client activities, maintain accurate records, and perform a variety of clerical and operational duties. Working collaboratively with Probation staff and community partners, you will also contribute to the department's mission of promoting accountability, rehabilitation, and positive behavior change. Additional responsibilities include:
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Providing customer service to clients, justice partners, and the public in person, over the phone, and electronically
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Monitoring client activities and following established safety and security protocols
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Conducting chemical testing, maintaining testing schedules, and accurately documenting results
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Facilitating Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) and supporting evidence-based practices, including motivational interviewing
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Entering and maintaining accurate information in justice system databases and other computerized systems
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Scheduling appointments, answering multi-line phone calls, and preparing correspondence
The ideal candidates will be compassionate, dependable, and motivated to support individuals involved in the criminal justice system. They will communicate effectively with diverse populations, remain calm under pressure, and commit to evidence-based practices that promote positive behavior change. They thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining professionalism, accountability, and confidentiality. Ideal candidates will also possess many of the following:
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Experience using evidence-based practices, such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, or trauma-informed approaches
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Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
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The ability to build rapport, resolve conflict professionally, and use sound judgment in challenging situations
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Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills with excellent attention to detail
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Experience performing data entry and using Microsoft Office and computerized recordkeeping systems
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The ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
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A commitment to maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, accountability, and continuous learning
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/ First Aid certification is desirable
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Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desirable, but not required
Please note: Probation Assistants may be assigned varying work schedules that include days, nights, evenings, weekends, and shift work. Their work is performed in both office and jail settings.
The Probation Department
The Probation Department is committed to enhancing community safety and improving lives through evidence-based practices that help individuals develop the skills needed to overcome challenges, make positive choices, and achieve long-term success. Working collaboratively with community partners, the department connects clients to valuable services and resources, including education, employment assistance, treatment programs, and housing support. As a vital partner in the justice system, Probation promotes accountability, supports victims, provides critical information to the courts, and works alongside law enforcement and community organizations to build safer, healthier communities.
Probation Full-Length Video (English)
Probation Full-Length Video (Spanish)
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
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Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
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Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
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Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
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County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
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Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
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Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
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Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
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Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
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Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
- Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
This recruitment is currently being conducted to fill two full-time Probation Assistants in the Probation Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
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You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
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You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
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Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.
Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
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Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
Additional Information
It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative to keep the department’s employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.
The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate’s personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: the use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.
All candidates will be required to take a pre-employment medical examination. The pre-employment medical examination will include drug testing as part of the medical examination for all applicants and for all current employees who are offered employment with the Offices/Departments. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed, and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate’s past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior, and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: CA
HR Technician: VH
