Juvenile Probation Officer
JOB DESCRIPTION
A juvenile probation officer is a person who supervisors juvenile offenders before their sentences from the court. A juvenile is a person less than 18 years old. A juvenile probation officer investigates the personal and criminal records of the juvenile and reports these to the court prior to sentencing. The juvenile probation office can also make recommendations to the court.
A juvenile probation officer works with a diversity of people and organizations. This requires strong oral and written communication skills. The juvenile probations officer works with the courts, Department of Corrections, local police, jails, substance abuse counselors, prosecuting attorneys, and social services. Being a juvenile probation officer is a blend between being a law enforcement officer and social worker.
It is the responsibility of the juvenile probation officer to assess the juvenile situation and to develop a plan for rehabilitation which can include counseling and monitoring behavior. The juvenile probation officer often goes into the home to make sure the juvenile is compliant with the court order. A juvenile probation officer can perform any function assigned by the court.