Juvenile probation services in Spokane, Washington, are administered through the local courts, with funding provided by the Department of Social and Health Services Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA), a state agency.
Sponsored School(s)
The juvenile probation officers (also referred to as juvenile probation counselors) in the Eastern Judicial District of Washington, which includes Spokane County, include the following:
- East Valley, West Valley, Central Valley, University, Cheney, and Medical Lake High School – 3 probation officers
- Deer Park, Riverside, Mt. Spokane and Mead High Schools – 1 probation officers
- Shadle Park and John R. Rogers High Schools –3 probation officers
- North Central, Lewis and Clark, and Joel E. Ferris High Schools – Supervision is divided among all probation officers
- Youth drug court – 1 probation officer
How to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in Spokane
General Requirements for All Applicants – Individuals seeking juvenile probation officer jobs in Spokane must possess a bachelor’s degree in psychology, administration of justice, one of the social sciences fields, or a closely related field.
Individuals interested in attaining probation officer jobs in Spokane must also possess a valid driver’s license and undergo a full criminal justice background investigation.
Juvenile Probation Counselor I – Candidates applying for Probation Counselor I jobs must have at least one year of experience working with juveniles, with preferred experience including working with juvenile offenders or evaluating adolescents.
Juvenile Probation Counselor II – Candidates applying for Probation Counselor II jobs must have at least three years of experience in the above areas.
How to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in Spokane through Training
All new probation officers in Spokane must complete a program for juvenile probation officers within the first 6 months of employment. This basic academy program, which is called the Washington State Criminal Justice program, includes 80 hours of classroom and field training that prepares new hires to become effective juvenile probation officers.
Some of the coursework covered during academy training include:
- Case files; intake and paperwork
- Legal issues
- Team building
- Transition planning
- Substance abuse
- Youths who sexually offend
- Integrated treatment model
- Mental health
- Field safety
- Case management
- Use of force
- Individual counseling
- Personal safety