Alternative Sentencing Worker

Final date to receive applications: 6/8/2026

Pay Grade: 13

Salary: $3,273.74 - $4,910.60 Monthly

Employment Type:

EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

Hiring Agency:
Justice & Public Safety Cabinet | Department of Public Advocacy

Location:

400 Park Ave Suite B, Paducah, KY 42001 USA

Alternative sentencing helps the community, as well as the client. Throughout the state, the criminal justice system is overloaded with drug-related cases. Taxpayers pay millions of dollars to incarcerate offenders for drug crimes. Putting nonviolent offenders in jail costs the community money without providing a long-term solution to the problem of addiction.

The Department of Public Advocacy represents indigent clients appointed by the court in criminal cases. If you have a strong desire to help others overcome substance abuse and mental health issues, help those less fortunate, reunite families, and help individuals become productive members of their community, then the Alternative Sentencing Worker (ASW) position is the job for you.

If you have a degree or relevant work experience in social work, psychology, sociology, or drug counseling and are interested in helping adults and juveniles with mental health or substance use disorders then you may be qualified for the Alternative Sentencing Worker Position.

You will work as a member of the defense team in the Paducah Trial Office to assist clients charged with criminal offenses related to substance abuse or mental health. You will conduct assessments to determine the client’s specific needs and then prepare an alternative sentence. The alternative sentence typically involves a treatment component. This could be inpatient, outpatient, short or long-term mental health or substance abuse treatment.

The ASW is a valued member of Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) trial offices. A candidate for this position should be able to:

• Multitask and Prioritize.
• Have strong organization skills
• Possess the ability to work on a team in addition to the ability to communicate well both verbally and through written documents and reports.
• Possess the ability to work alone and be self-motivated.

• EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, family studies, counseling or a related field.
• EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR
  
  SKILLS:
  
  NONE
• Substitute EDUCATION for
  
  EXPERIENCE:
  
  NONE
• Substitute EXPERIENCE for
  
  EDUCATION:
  
  A bachelor's degree supplemented by one year of professional social work, substance use disorder, or mental health experience will substitute for the required education.
• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.): Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license prior to employment in this job classification. Must maintain any required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials for the length of employment in this job classification. Employing agency is responsible for ensuring employee possesses and maintains required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials.

Work is performed in both an office setting and in the field. Frequent travel is required to complete field activity.

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 6 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Holly McNeil eil or .

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D.