Pretrial Specialist - Probation Department (Open & Promotional)

The County of San Mateo Probation Department is seeking highly dedicated candidates with outstanding analytical and collaboration skills to join our team as Pretrial Specialists, to support the Pretrial Services Unit.

As a Pretrial Specialist, you'll engage in meaningful face-to-face interactions with incarcerated individuals within a secure correctional facility, demonstrating comfort and dedication to your role, which may involve shift-work, including Sundays. In this non-sworn specialist position within the Probation Department, incumbents will have subject matter expertise in the use of County-approved pretrial assessment tools.

In this capacity, Pretrial Specialists play a crucial role in supporting both the County of San Mateo Superior Court of California and the Probation Department. By gathering and evaluating relevant information from detainees, you'll determine and recommend eligibility for release on own recognizance or monitored own recognizance. The impactful work of Pretrial Specialists actively contributes to the reduction of negative consequences associated with pretrial incarceration, all while ensuring the utmost public safety. To learn more about the department visit: https://www.smcgov.org/probation.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience working in a criminal justice setting.
• Have working knowledge of legal documents.
• Demonstrate knowledge with legal terminology.
• Have the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with other justice partners toward agreed upon objectives.
• Understand and maintain necessary confidentiality.
• Maintain a positive public image, even under stressful situations.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Have the ability to multi-task and systematically address competing priorities while working in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics:

Bilingual Proficiency in Spanish: Skilled in conducting professional conversations, writing documents, and interpreting information accurately in Spanish is preferred but not required.

Background Check: Selected candidates must successfully pass a detailed background and/or criminal history review conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and be cleared to work in a locked facility and expected to maintain the clearance. Felony and misdemeanor convictions may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and recency.

Rewarding Aspects of the Job: As a Pretrial Specialist, you will have the opportunity to collaborate and work with various county justice partners to ensure community safety. You will be working in a supportive and team-oriented environment that values diversity and collaboration, fostering a workplace where all team member's unique perspectives contribute to our shared commitment to community well-being.

Challenging Aspects of the Job: Pretrial Specialists encounter a set of unique challenges integral to their role. Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail are needed to meet strict court deadlines. Additionally, Pretrial Specialists will work in locked facilities, working in a secure environment which requires adaptability and a keen awareness of safety protocols.

Work Locations and Available Shifts:

There are currently several vacancies within the Probation Department, situated at both the Hall of Justice and Maguire Correctional Facility. The work schedules offer flexibility, with options available for both Sunday to Thursday and Monday to Friday, excluding Saturdays. Shifts are available from 6 am to 3 pm and 9 am to 6 pm.

As a Pretrial Specialist, your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform difficult, complex, technical, and/or specialized confidential legal office support work requiring the exercise of independent judgment, application of technical skills, and knowledge of pretrial assessment tools and procedures.
• Interview pre-arraigned detainees charged with criminal offenses and verify the information obtained.
• Review and interpret criminal histories and other legal documents.
• Assess and determine detainees' eligibility and/or appropriateness for release from custody using a combination of established criteria and background data obtained.
• Compile and complete required release forms.
• Install continuous alcohol monitoring (CAM) or global positioning system (GPS) devices on inmates released per court order.
• Prepare and obtain signatures for various documents, including promise-to-appear notices and release-on-own-recognizance forms.
• Schedule defendants for court appearances and document all contacts with defendants.
• Set up client cases in the case management system and send court date reminders.
• Monitor the telephone reporting system for client compliance with check-in requirements.
• Research and gather information from a variety of sources for completing forms or preparing reports; make arithmetic and statistical calculations as needed.
• Organize, maintain, and purge various departmental files.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

A typical way to qualify is two years journey level office support experience in a legal office.

Knowledge of:

• Court and arrest procedures.
• Statutes impacting pre-trial services.
• Interviewing techniques.
• Basic principles of human behavior, specifically the issues common to criminal behavior.
• Legal documents, terminology, processes, procedures and forms.
• Probation department policies and procedures.
• Relevant computer applications and software used in the performance of the work.
• Office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.
• Business letter writing and the standard format for typed materials.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
• Record keeping principles and practices.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform technical, specialized, complex, or difficult legal and pretrial support work.
• Read, understand, and analyze legal documents originating in justice partner agencies.
• Interview detainees charged with criminal offenses and obtain information.
• Investigate, research, and interpret criminal histories.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Organize, prioritize, and coordinate work activities.
• Read and interpret rules, policies, and procedures.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with a variety of individuals, some of whom may be hostile or irate.
• Organize, research, and maintain legal office files.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Compose routine correspondence from brief instructions.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Operate standard office equipment, such as a word processor, personal or desktop computer, and centralized telephone equipment.
• Work non-traditional hours.
• Meet time-sensitive deadlines.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Final Filing Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025, by 11:59PM PST
Applicant Screening: January 28, 2025
Panel Interviews: February 12 and/or 13, 2025

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.