Probation officers in Spokane County fulfill two important roles that improve the overall quality of life in the city:
- First, they protect the public safety by monitoring probationers and making arrests or reports as needed when terms of probation are violated.
- Second, they help offenders learn how to become responsible citizens in the local community, creating a greater level of law-abidance and community productivity while at the same time reducing the tax burden on citizens by lowering the prison population.
Recent statistics show there were 190 people employed as probation officers in Spokane, who made an average annual salary of $53,470.
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Job Duties in Spokane County
Probation officers in Spokane County are responsible for providing the following services:
- Intake interviews, assessments, and orientation for new arrivals
- Directs referrals of the court and coordinates offender movements from local and federal institution
- Refers offenders to appropriate and effective community resources for treatment
- Assists with discipline for federal and county inmates
Education for Spokane County Probation Officers
Probation officers are hired by the Spokane County to provide their services to anyone in the county limits who has received a probation sentence. The County requires all applicants for probation officer jobs to have at least a bachelor’s degree in any subject area including social work, psychology, or criminal justice. The degree must be from an accredited college or university and is a minimum requirement.
Beginning a career as a probation officer in Spokane also requires some previous knowledge and experience. Candidates for the position must:
- Have at least one year of previous experience working with either:
- Casework
- Group and youth work
- Detention
- Parole and probation counseling and training
- Valid driver’s license
- Have knowledge of the following:
- Report compilation and writing
- Current evidence-based techniques and trends in the probation field
- Probation methods, training, philosophy, and practice
- Be able to:
- Counsel offenders and make accurate assessments
- Interpret, apply, and understand statutes, rules, and court regulations
- Communicate with a wide variety of people effectively
How to Apply
Candidates can always keep an eye on the Spokane County human resources webpage for any probation officer postings, though employment applications can always be downloaded and either mailed, faxed, or hand delivered to the HR office near the county courthouse building on Mallon Street.
The fully completed application will be screened to ensure the prospective employee meets all minimum requirements. If a candidate’s application is competitive enough, he or she will be invited for an interview. A career as a probation officer in Spokane County also requires the candidate to complete a background check and pass a drug test.