Lead Corrections Counselor – District Court

Job Summary

The  Corrections Counselor Lead is responsible for professional interviewing, counseling and investigative work with offenders in the Probation and Pretrial Release Division.  Incumbents have lead worker responsibilities for Corrections Counselor positions in the County criminal justice system.  Leads prioritize, assign, coordinate, monitor and evaluate work; provide assistance; resolve minor work or personnel problems; and make recommendations to the appropriate program manager(s) regarding performance evaluations,  training, major job reassignments, and recruitment selection.  Positions of this classification are engaged in programs such as Probation, Alternative Detention, Release on Own Recognizance, Supervised Release, Deferred Prosecution, Restitution, Work Crews, Jail Programs, Employment and Alternative Community Services. 

Guidelines are available in the form of codes, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.  However, incumbents may be confronted with situations in which they must use considerable judgment in interpreting or applying guidelines.  Incumbents may also analyze and evaluate existing guidelines, procedures and policies, recommending appropriate changes.

General guidance and supervision is received from a Program Manager, who makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities and deadlines and assists the incumbent with unusual situations or problems which do not have clear precedents. 

Special projects are assigned by a Program Manager I on an individual basis as the need arises.  The incumbent is expected to carry out the work independently, and exercise discretion and judgment in making daily decisions.  Work is reviewed for timeliness, accuracy, thoroughness and compliance to court rules, regulations, guidelines and departmental policy.

This position is represented by Local 11 – OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO).

Qualifications
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Four years of experience in criminal justice interviewing, counseling or supervision of offenders in either a non-incarceration or an incarceration environment.
• Must be appropriate for background clearance to access to criminal record history.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology
• Knowledge of and experience using best practices in probation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• General Knowledge of court and probation practices

Knowledge of: Interviewing and counseling methods and techniques, including class/group facilitation; criminal justice system and community resources; uses and limitations of testing instruments; applicable regulations, statutes, codes and procedures; statistical analysis and research methods and techniques; and principles of evidence based practices in offender supervision; developing and implementing responsive re-entry programming for offenders and understanding offender barriers to housing, employment, family reunification and integration within the community; grant writing, resource acquisition, and program implementation and compliance.

Ability to: Respond quickly in situations requiring safety and protection of self and others; assess people and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; interpret results of testing instruments; evaluate performance of simple and basic work tasks and make recommendations; respond to and evaluate emotional needs of offenders in a supervised environment; interview effectively and obtain needed information; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, offenders, other agencies and the public.

An online application is required.  For complete job announcement, application requirements, and to apply on-line, please visit our website at:

https://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/explore-careers-clark-county

Salary Grade: Local 11.714 ($29.89 - $38.16) per hour                                     

https://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/explore-careers-clark-county