Career Opportunities

Careers

Juvenile Correctional Counselor

Generally speaking, Juvenile Correctional Counselors (JCCs) are dynamic individuals with a knack for building positive relationships with minors under difficult circumstances. JCCs serve as role models at all times and are capable of employing good parenting/mentoring skills with a spectrum of youth from our diverse community. JCCs are responsible for supervision of minors in various Juvenile Probation facilities, including Juvenile Hall, Probation Camp and the Sierra Youth Center. JCCs direct day-to-day activities within a given facility, interact with the minors and their families, evaluate the needs of the minors and direct them to appropriate programming within the Department. Communication and organizational skills are a plus, and experience and education which is complimentary to this field are also desirable. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, Juvenile Correctional Counselors are peace officers. They are expected to embody the best characteristics of a peace officer in all of their dealings, both on and off duty.

Adult and Juvenile Deputy Probation Officer

"Probation work is a wonderful opportunity to assist people in becoming a better person, parent, spouse, friend and community member. The key ingredient to success is motivating probationers to desire positive changes in their lives."

"Probation is an insightful and rewarding career"

Probation Officers serve a unique role in the criminal justice system. Probation is the only agency that interacts and collaborates with all of the system partners including the Court family, the law enforcement community, treatment providers, community-based organizations, schools, businesses, and human services and mental health agencies.   Probation Officers wear many hats and provide an array of services to the Court and to offenders. These include:

• Serving the Court by providing comprehensive sentencing reports that contain an assessment and evaluation of each defendant’s specific circumstances, including a recommended criminal sentence;
• Assessment of issues that impact a probationer’s success, including alcohol and substance abuse, family dynamics, peer associations, and employment;
• Planning and goal setting to assist offenders in developing a healthier lifestyle
• Building relationships with offenders and providing linkages to community resources that support their success
• Monitoring compliance of Court conditions, including conducting searches, and effecting arrests of offenders who break the law or are a danger to themselves and/or the community
• Advocating and encouraging offenders to make positive choices and changes

People who succeed in and enjoy this profession are people who enjoy working with a diverse group of people and are able to flexibly shift gears during any given day on the job. Probation Officers must have respect for the law and the court process, and be comfortable holding offenders accountable for non-compliance. They must be committed and vested in assisting offenders in making positive changes, and understand the positive influence of structure and accountability. Probation is an honorable profession that offers hope for positive change.

Probation Administration

The Administrative Division provides support to the Probation Department and its clients. Probation Administration encompasses a variety of career opportunities including finance and accounting, program development and analysis, legal processing, administrative support, payroll, human resources, asset management and information systems.

As part of the administrative team, staff serves the community by supporting programs and services that have a direct impact on the lives of the clients and community we serve. The Probation Department offers a wide variety of programs and services to our clients, creating a dynamic and challenging work environment. If you are looking for an exciting career in public service, the Probation Department offers many opportunities. Sonoma County Probation is currently pursuing several cutting edge initiatives as we strive to meet the challenges of a changing corrections industry. As part of the Administrative team, you will help drive this change forward while making a difference in the lives of others.