Pretrial Specialist

Pretrial Specialist

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in sociology, psychology, human services, corrections and/or social sciences or a related field
• 1-year related experience, or any equivalent combination of training and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Knowledge of Weld County Government and 19th Judicial District practices and general operational policies and procedures
• Knowledge of ethical guidelines applicable to pretrial justice / counseling / case management professional standards, federal, state and local laws, codes or ordinances
• Knowledge of Colorado Judicial System, its many databases and of various forms of alternative correctional services; policies, procedures, goals and objectives of the department
• Knowledge of practices and procedures of the court system, including common provisions and requirements for detainees
• Methods and procedures for verifying defendant information, including use of Colorado Courts Data Access and general understanding of National and Colorado Crime Information Center computer systems
• Knowledge of current literature, trends, and developments in the criminal justice field
• Skills to collect, analyze and present objectively to others and with ease, information about the performance and compliance of persons under the care of the department
• Use independent judgment and discretion in setting schedules, goals and ongoing supervision of persons under the care of the department
• Exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with defendants as well as with various county, court and other public officials with differing levels of authority and influence and the general public
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers, county personnel, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community
• Apply individual and group problem-solving and decision-making processes to previously unknown situations
• Exercise organizational and analytical skills
• Establish and maintain complex electronic and tangible records and files
• Work harmoniously with defendants and/or other department and county personnel
• Demonstrate good investigative skills and process detailed information to assess risk and needs of defendants with overall outcome of safety to the community
• Possess effective interview skills with defendants
• Comprehend frequently used terms in correctional supervision and rehabilitation
• Understand basic treatment modalities and administer various substance abuse/mental health assessments
• Establish and maintain working relationships with community agencies for consultation, evaluation and case planning
• Process and enter large volumes of data into various databases, interpret data and effectively use common software applications; query local, state and national databases

Responsibilities

• Track detainees booked into jail via secondary query of Weld County data management system
• Individually interview and assess adults booked into the Weld County Jail to determine their pretrial release suitability, likelihood of committing new criminal offenses and/or likelihood of appearance to all future court hearings
• Utilize complex computerized data entry equipment and various word processing, spreadsheet and/or file maintenance programs to enter, store and/or retrieve information as requested or otherwise necessary
• Utilize county, judicial, state and national law enforcement databases to obtain criminal history information about detainees
• Summarize data in preparation of standardized reports for various judicial officials
• Compile and verify information, citing all contacts, and prepare detailed reports of detainees’ status
• Obtain and record detainees’ place of residence, family ties, employment, prior criminal convictions, status of any pending cases/sentences, drug, alcohol and/or mental health concerns and amend files to reflect changes as appropriate
• Furnish this information to the Court and judicial officials
• Review with and furnish information to detainees on reporting instructions for next court date and/or for pretrial supervision
• Prepare written reports to various judicial officers on the pre/post advisement release of detainees
• Assist and as scheduled, personally attend detainees’ first court appearance advisement hearings
• Provide oral input based on expertise and observations, as appropriate
• Inform detainees of hearing process
• Document and report outcomes for Courts and the department
• Input outcomes in Pretrial Services database
• Notify and/or inform a variety of agencies and individuals regarding detainees’ status
• Respond to inquiries made of agencies on the status of detainees and their bond conditions, electronic monitoring or community treatment participation
• Respond to myriad of citizen, county, court and law enforcement requests, on status and needs of defendants
• Interview defendants, prepare individual supervision plans, and explain the orders of the court and the requirements of their pretrial supervision
• Collect and process applicable fees from defendants
• Maintain regular contact with defendants via telephone, in writing or in person, to monitor their activities and compliance with specific conditions ordered by the courts
• Personally, appear in court to support submitted correspondence
• Refer defendants to various community-based agencies for substance abuse testing, and required monitored sobriety/treatment services
• If a condition of their pretrial release supervision, explain to defendants electronic monitoring equipment, describing the type/use of the equipment ordered; initiate referrals for electronic monitoring
• Monitor compliance of defendants with electronic monitoring
• Attend seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, and lectures, as appropriate, to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in field of pretrial and alternative correctional services
• Assist administrative support staff with preparing case files, answering phones, reception of defendants, providing cross training of other departmental staff and ‘backup’ coverage to other division personnel

Preferred Qualifications

No preferred qualifications provided.