Juvenile probation officers working in Santa Clara County manage caseloads of young offenders as part of their daily duties, which affords them opportunities to use creative and innovative methods to address challenges posed by young delinquents. After completing a lengthy training course and a discriminating application process, a juvenile probation officer’s typical day might include:
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- Promoting family reunification services through mental health counseling
- Working in the burglary suppression-truancy abatement program
- Providing foster care placement support
- Making substance abuse, mental health, or family and domestic violence referrals
- Providing Peer Court guidance
- Making unannounced visits to monitor compliance of juvenile probation terms
Peer Court is just one of the innovative rehabilitation programs the Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department has developed. This involves a peer based volunteer group of teens acting as jurors who find a binding sentence for the juvenile defendant. In a recent year 80 teens participated as jurors for 23 youth defendants whose recidivism rate was lower than average.
Education and Minimum Requirements
The Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department requires all those interested in becoming probation officers to have at least a bachelor’s degree in any field, with a preference given to candidates who have their degree in:
- Penology
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Other closely related fields
Other requirements for juvenile probation officer jobs in Santa Clara County include:
- Being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has applied and is eligible for citizenship
- Having no felony convictions
- Possessing a valid California driver’s license
Training for Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Officers
After successfully making their way through the application process, the first step in the new officers’ careers will be to attend the 170-hour Deputy Probation Officer Core Training Course. In over a month of full-time study and hands-on experience, new officers will learn how to become effective and capable juvenile probation officers through training that includes:
- The history, foundation, and current status of the juvenile justice system
- Decision making and legal obligations in juvenile detention facilities
- A full day of training in juvenile court report writing
- 12 hours of officer safety training
- Blocking and evasive techniques
- Positive reinforcement and other psychological techniques
Applying to the Santa Clara County Human Resources Department
Candidates should monitor the Santa Clara County HR Department’s careers webpage for any openings listed as Deputy Probation Officer. The HR department lists adult and juvenile probation officers under the same title and the distinction between the two is recognized later within the county’s probation department. If there are no available positions at the time, candidates can fill out a jobs notification card that will send an email alert when there is an opening. If a candidate’s application is noteworthy and complete, he or she may be selected to continue in the application process, which includes:
- Background investigation
- Interview
- Polygraph and drug test
- Psychological and medical evaluation
Working in Santa Clara County
New deputy officers working in the juvenile probation department make between $56,607 and $68,810 annually. Employees of Santa Clara County can expect good employment benefits such as a retirement plan, medical coverage, paid vacations and time off. Besides San Jose and Santa Clara, juvenile probation officers provide coverage for all areas in the county, including
- Sunnyvale
- Mountain View
- Milpitas
- Palo Alto