DETENTION SERVICES OFFICER

Position/Program Information

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PROBATION DEPARTMENT

EXAM NUMBER:

F8655J

FILING PERIOD:

FEBRUARY 28, 2024, AT 5:00 P.M. (PT)
UNTIL THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE ARE MET AND IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
Open Competitive Job Opportunity

REPOSTING INFORMATION
This announcement is being reposted to update the Special Requirement information: Structured Interview and Work Environment.

Persons who have already applied within the last 2 months need not reapply.

The Los Angeles County Probation Department is leading the way in rebuilding lives and making our communities healthier and safer. Working hand in hand with the Board of Supervisors and partner agencies, our goal is to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism through a "Care First, Jails Last" approach.

Are you looking for a place to make a difference in people's lives? Are you passionate about helping and guiding youth? Are you a respected and creative member of the community?

The Probation Department is looking for highly motivated individuals who can assist and advise youth on ways to redirect behavior into pro-social channels, while assisting youth in managing their behavior through coaching, counseling, and acknowledging pro-social behavior. Do you see yourself making a difference in the organization's mission and the community? Then join our team!

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS
Detention Services Officer positions hold the status of sworn-peace officers in the Probation Department. (Please see the Requirements and Special Requirement Information sections for additional information on peace officer requirements and the Background Investigation process).

Positions supervise the activities of detained minors in juvenile halls. Incumbents serve as members of a small team responsible for the order and security of a unit of probation youth, transport minors to medical care facilities and/or courts or other locations, and provide situational counseling, as necessary. Detention Services Officers must be able to restrain combative probation youth physically.

Essential Job Functions

• Supervises detained probation youth in their activities within the unit, on work assignments, during recreation periods, on medical or dental appointments, or awaiting court appearances.
• Maintains order and control of a unit and takes appropriate action in connection with rule infractions or other disturbances.
• Maintains institutional security and takes appropriate action to prevent escapes.
• Supervises the movement of probation youth within and outside the facility.
• Controls and restrains combative or emotionally disturbed probation youth.
• Observes and records the behavior of probation youth and confers with the supervisor about problematic probation youth.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
Completion of 60 semester* or 90 quarter* units from an accredited college, including coursework in the behavioral or social sciences such as psychology, sociology, or criminology.

Candidates must meet the qualifications for designation as a Peace Officer within the Probation Department, including, but not limited to:

1) No Felony Convictions

2) Citizenship - Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. Applicants will be required to submit their documents during the background process.

3) At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment

Appointees will be required to meet State-mandated CORE training requirements as defined by Standards for Training in Corrections.

PHYSICAL CLASS
IV - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity, such as those in Safety positions.

LICENSE
A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
As part of this application process, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The questionnaire contains pre-investigative questions that will be utilized as part of the background investigation process to ensure applicants meet the selection requirements and standards set forth by the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Applicants who fail the supplemental questionnaire will be disqualified and have to wait six (6) months from the date of the disqualification to reapply.

STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
As part of the hiring interview process, candidates who pass the multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s) will be required to participate in the structured interview in compliance with the California Code of Regulations, Board of State and Community Corrections Minimum Selection Standards (§ 131). Every peace officer applicant will be interviewed prior to employment to determine the applicant's suitability for law enforcement service.

Applicants who fail the structured interview will be disqualified and will have to wait three (3) months from the date of disqualification to reapply.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A thorough background investigation will be conducted, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1) Live Scan and Criminal Records Check
2) Polygraph Examination or Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Test.
3) Psychological Examination
4) Medical and Drug Screening Examination
5) Credit Check
6) Juvenile Corrections Officer Core physical agility examination

Candidates who are found unsuitable for employment will be removed from the eligible register pursuant to Civil Service Rule 6.04, including but not limited to the following:

• Who is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics or habit-forming drugs;
• Who is guilty of conduct not compatible with County employment, whether or not it amounts to a crime;
• Who has been dismissed or has resigned in lieu of discharge from any position, public or private, for any cause which would be a cause for dismissal from County service; or whose record of employment has not been satisfactory in the County service, or with any other agency or firm;
• Who has abandoned any position in County service or been absent from duty without leave of absence duly granted;
• Who has a made material false statement or who has attempted any deception or fraud in connection with this or any other civil service examinations;
• Who refuses to execute the oath as prescribed by law;
• Who refuses to be fingerprinted;
• Who refuses to take or fails to pass the prescribed medical examination

*IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF UNITS COMPLETED OR LEVEL OF DEGREE ON THE JOB APPLICATION AND ATTACH/UPLOAD A LEGIBLE COPY OF THE OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE ACCREDITED INSTITUTION WHICH SHOWS THE AREA OF SPECIALIZATION WITH REGISTRAR'S SIGNATURE AND OR SCHOOL SEAL WITH YOUR APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF FILING OR WITHIN 15 CALENDAR DAYS FROM APPLICATION SUBMISSION OR YOUR APPLICATION MAY BE REJECTED. YOU MAY EMAIL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO EXAMINATIONS@PROBATION.LACOUNTY.GOV .

Positions to this class will be required to possess a certificate of completion of a 40-hour introductory training course on the laws of arrest under Penal Code Section 832 and Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) within 90 days of appointment to the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

California Penal Code 830.5 states that Probation Officers are peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state while engaged in the performance of the duties of their respective employment and for the purpose of carrying out the primary function of their employment or as required under Sections 8597, 8598, and 8617 of the Government Code. The authority and expectations of probation officers extends to:

To conditions of parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision by any person in this state on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision.To the escape of any inmate or ward from a state or local institution.To the transportation of persons on parole, probation, mandatory supervision, or post release community supervision.To violations of any penal provisions of law which are discovered while performing the usual or authorized duties of the officer’s employment.(A) To the rendering of mutual aid to any other law enforcement agency. As Peace officers, under the authority cited above, sworn Probation staff may need to address an escape, maintain supervision needs or quell illegal activity. Such duties may involve physical use of force, including restraining youth and/or adults.

For more information regarding California Penal Code Section 830.5 please click Here .

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT
This examination process will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s) weighted 100% assessing:

• Written English
• Following Instructions
• Numerical Calculation
• Achievement
• Professional Potential
• Responsibility
• Teamwork

Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and receive a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the eligible register.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE AND SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

NOTE: All notifications, including invitation letters, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on your application. Please add the below email addresses to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

• Warangkana.Suos@probation.lacounty.gov
  
• klent@hr.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• talentcentral@shl.com
• donot-reply@amcatmail.com

Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving electronic notifications a valid reason for late test administration or rescheduling an examination component.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS

Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their scores automatically transferred to this examination.

This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.

TEST PREPARATIONStudy guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/ . Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.

You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests/ . While the guides will help you prepare for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

To access the Los Angeles County Probation Department Pre-Academy Fitness Guide, click here: http://file.lacounty.gov/probation/cms1_248934.pdf.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months from the date they are promulgated.

As a result of a special study conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 11.01 (D), successful candidates shall be assembled into separate groups as follows:
Band V: 101%- 110%
Band 1: 70% - 100%

Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly. No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.

VACANCY INFORMATION
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

AVAILABLE SHIFT
Any

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application BEFORE 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline. You may be required to verify your email address. Verification only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance your online application's security and ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Applicants may upload required or additional documents (i.e. copy of degree, certification, etc.) as attachment(s) at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach the required and/or additional documents at the time of filing, you may email to examinations@probation.lacounty.gov . Please include your name, examination number, and examination title.

Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have CLEARLY shown that you meet the SELECTION REQUIREMENTS. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications . For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application and/or supplemental questionnaire is incomplete, it may be rejected.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• ALL information included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION . Applications may be rejected at any stage of the selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED .
• Test results cannot be given over the telephone.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record and will result in an automatic rejection of your application.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION: If you require an accommodation to compete fairly in any part of the assessment process, let us know by contacting the Testing Accommodations Coordinator at TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov . You will be required to complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form and provide supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the requested accommodation(s). The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond to your request and keep you moving through the process.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For Candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

LA County Public Library may require prior reservations to use their computers. Please visit the following link at https://lacountylibrary.org/library-locator/ for more information.

Department Contact Name: Probation Examinations Unit, Sworn Exams
Department Contact Number: (562) 940-2659
Department Contact Email: examinations@probation.lacounty.gov
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
ADA Coordinator email: TestingAccommodations@hr.lacounty.gov
Teletype Phone: (877) 988-7800

For detailed information, please click here

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