Rule ARLJ 11.2 - Qualifications And Core Services Of Probation Department Personnel(a) Probation Officer Qualifications. (1) A minimum of a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree that provides the necessary education and skills in dealing with complex legal and human issues, as well as competence in making decisions and using discretionary judgment. A course of study in sociology, psychology, or criminal justice is preferred.(2) Counseling skills necessary to evaluate and act on offender crisis, assess offender needs, motivate offenders, and make recommendations to the court.(3) Education and training necessary to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to interview and counsel offenders with a wide variety of offender problems, including, but not limited, to alcoholism, domestic violence, mental illness, sexual deviancy; to testify; to communicate with referral resources,; and to prepare legal documents and reports.(4) Anyone not meeting the above qualifications and having competently held the position of probation officer for the past two years shall be deemed to have met the qualifications.(b) Probation Officer--Core Services.(1) Conduct pre- and postsentence investigations with interviews and extensive research that includes, but is not limited to, criminal history, contact with victims, personal history, social and economic needs, community resource needs, counseling/treatment needs, work history, family and employer support, and complete written pre- and postsentence reports, which includes sentencing recommendations to the court.(2) For offenders referred to the misdemeanant probation department, determine their risk to the community using a standardized classification system with a minimum of monthly interviews for offenders classified at the highest level.(3) Evaluate offenders' social problems, amenability to different types of treatment programs, and determine appropriate referral.(4) Supervise offenders with interviews depending on risk classification system.(5) Oversee community agencies providing services required of offenders with input to the judicial officer (e.g., alcohol/drug, domestic violence, sexual deviancy, and mental illness).(6) Other Duties The core services listed under both probation officer and probation employee or other court clerical staff, such as record checks, calendaring court proceedings, and accounting of fees.(c) Probation Clerk Qualifications.(1) High school or equivalent diploma.(2) Efficient in all facets of basic clerical skills including but not limited to keyboarding, computer familiarity and competence, filing, and positive public interaction.(3) Above average ability in dealing with stress and difficult clients.(4) Ability to complete and perform multi task assignments.(d) Probation Clerk--Core Services.(1) Monitor compliance of treatment obligations with professional treatment providers.(2) Report offender noncompliance with conditions of sentence to the court.(3) Coordinate treatment referral information, and monitor community agencies for statutory reporting compliance.(4) Anyone not meeting the above qualifications and having held the position of probation clerk for the past two years shall be deemed to have met the qualifications.(5) Other Duties. The core services listed under both probation officer and probation clerk are not meant to exclude other duties that may be performed by either classification of employee or other court clerical staff, such as record checks, calendaring court proceedings, and accounting of fees.Wash. R. Ct. Lim. Juri. ARLJ 11.2
Amended effective 6/7/2024.