Jail Screener - Criminal Justice Services

Job Description

Salt Lake County…A career with a purpose in the community you love!

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

What it is like to work here:

At Salt Lake County our culture is woven into all aspects of our work and our employees’ lives, from the way we treat each other to the way we support the community.  To promote and foster a fun and healthy work environment, we appreciate employees through great benefits, a healthy work life balance and room to grow and develop.

Surround yourself with:

Peers who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. We serve Salt Lake County and envision a safe and beautiful place for all to live, work and have fun. Salt Lake County is about connecting people and championing our community.  Community is more than a place….its our heart and service that bring us together.

We encourage a work life balance:

Working for Salt Lake County is more than just a paycheck.  A career with /Salt Lake County includes several benefits and perks.  We support our employees with 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year.  

Additional Benefits include:

• Retirement options for hybrid pension/401(k) or 401(k) only with a 10% contribution
• Medical coverage including a 100% county paid premium option-Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for adult designees
• Health Savings account with a county contribution up to $1200/year, Flexible Spending Account
• 100% county-paid Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability option
• Professional Development including professional membership fees paid
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Plus: Onsite medical clinic, and gym; hospital insurance, pet insurance auto and home insurance and discounts at County facilities. 

For Benefits information Click HERE 

To estimate how much your pay and benefits could be worth use our Total Rewards Estimator

Join our team in a career that centers on alternatives to incarceration, evidence-based practices and community collaboration. We focus on community safety through positive behavior change and supporting individuals involved in the justice system. Our services address the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior and provide the opportunity for change.

JOB SUMMARY

Conducts booking interviews directly with defendants in the Salt Lake County Metro Jail to make decisions or inform current court case status with alternative release options.  Executes court-ordered Pretrial releases and explains supervision requirements to defendants.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Administration of Justice, or Social Work, or a related field; OR an equivalent combination of related education and experience in case management, community supervision, social services direct interactions, and assessing clients.

Must be able to obtain and maintain jail security clearance.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must pass a required background check through fingerprinting and enrollment in the continuous RAP Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) program in accordance with current County Human Resources policy requirements.  

Experience working with underrepresented communities is strongly preferred.

Ability to read, write, and speak a language other than English is strongly preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Meets with defendants and performs interviews and background research for release eligibility for those booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. Assesses defendant’s screening and collateral information to determine Pretrial eligibility.
• Verifies defendant’s self-reported information by contacting the associates and family of the defendant.
• Informs the defendant of their release options and court status.
• Documents release decisions and pertinent information in the case management system.
• Calculates Public Safety Assessment to determine the appropriate supervision level for those who meet release criteria.
• Updates the Public Safety Assessment score in the Utah Courts database to provide accurate information for state-wide Pretrial releases.
• Communicates recommendations to judges and/or Court Screeners, either favoring or opposing Pretrial release, along with recommended release conditions.
• Records and transmits necessary release information to the jail Court Liaison, Pretrial Supervision Unit, and appropriate court jurisdiction.
• Interacts with law enforcement, attorneys, jail personnel, court personnel, and the general public regarding the defendant’s release status in keeping with confidentiality guidelines.
• Responds to communications from incarcerated defendants regarding their release eligibility or court case status.
• Provides defendants instructions to initiate Pretrial Supervision and reviews release agreement conditions. Discuss potential barriers to initiate supervision and encourage defendants to access services provided by Jail Resource and Reentry upon release.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA)

Knowledge of:

• Interviewing methods and techniques, and other evidence-based practices
• Structure of the criminal justice system
• Crisis intervention procedures
• Salt Lake County and Division policies and procedures
• GRAMA, HIPAA, and County confidentiality restrictions

Skills and Abilities to:

• Utilize computer equipment and multiple programs, and databases
• Work in an institutional setting with a volatile population
• Follow verbal and written procedures and instructions
• Effectively interpret general policy, criteria, and procedures
• Interact confidently with judges and criminal justice stakeholders
• Exhibit sound judgment by analyzing information to make informed decisions
• Thrive in a team setting, working together in close quarters
• Communicate effectively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds in stressful situations
• Recognize and understand substance use and addiction
• Navigate criminal justice records and research court cases

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS  

This position requires work in the Salt Lake County Jail, a secure facility that has direct contact with defendants and may be exposed to stress because of human behavior in a jail environment.

This position works in a communal environment with a shared workspace.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS POSITION

• Must be able to work various shifts, including nights, graveyard shifts, weekends, and holidays.
• The work location of this position is at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.