Court Services Officer

Brief Description

Under the general supervision of the County Attorney, the Court Services Officer position performs administrative activities to implement and track youth offenders and adult defendants who have been ordered by a court to complete community service hours, mental health and/or chemical dependency evaluations, and anger management counseling.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position are acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a social science or related field and one (1) year of experience working with troubled youths or other job-related work experience.

• Supports the goals and mission of the Board of County Commissioners;
• Performs administrative activities related to the implementation and tracking of court-ordered community service obligations and/or assessments and counseling related to mental health, chemical dependency, and anger management;
• Manages the court services office to provide court-ordered participants with program information and documentation;
• Enroll offenders/participants in the required programs;
• Provides and explains documentation;
• Maintains documentation to track participant program compliance;
• Develops and updates a master list of community service worksite opportunities;
• Coordinates and communicates with involved entities, including courts and court personnel and community stakeholders;
• Receives and processes all compliance documentation delivered by offenders/participants and community partners;
• Maintains and updates calendars;
• Receives and processes payments as needed;
• Verifies defendants’ timesheets;
• Compiles program reports;
• Drafts and finalizes program documents;
• Composes any necessary communication and correspondence;
• Coordinates with counseling service providers;
• Provides communication and customer service for court services program;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and tasks may change with or without notice.

• Practices and principles of community service;
• Federal, state and local laws pertaining to misdemeanors;
• Procedures, policies and rules of Helena Municipal Court, Justice Court, Youth Court, District Court, Treatment Court, Juvenile Probation, and Adult Probation;
• Montana Youth Court Act and related laws;
• Principles and practices of mental health counseling;
• County and department policies;
• Crisis intervention techniques;
• Adolescent development and behavior;
• Program documentation requirements;
• Intergovernmental relations, including forming working relationships with community partners such as other government agencies and non-profits;
• Legal principles and practices;
• Ethics of law processes;
• Administrative and clerical procedures;
• Record management procedures;
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing;
• Interact effectively with youth and adult offenders;
• Devise and monitor community service and mental health treatment plans;
• Stay informed of new developments in the laws and trends that affect community service and mental health orders;
• Understand legal terminology;
• Maintain files and records according to prescribed methods;
• Maintain confidentiality of individuals and matters;
• Use common office machines, including computers and software programs;
• Understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Provides high-quality customer service to County employees, Elected Officials, and members of the public;
• Establish effective working relationships with fellow employees, representatives of other departments/agencies, and citizens.

Position is subject to a criminal background check prior to hire and thereafter to assure ongoing ability to access Confidential Justice Information Network (CJIN) as prescribed by CJIN/NCIC policies. Local and area travel…