ARLJ 11
                Misdemeanant Probation Department


RULE 11   PROBATION DEPARTMENT

RULE 11.1 DEFINITION

     A misdemeanant probation department, if a court elects to
establish one, is an entity that provides services designed to
assist the court in the management of criminal justice and
thereby aid in the preservation of public order and safety.  This
entity may consist of probation officers and probation clerks.
The method of providing these services shall be established by
the presiding judge of the local court to meet the specific needs
of the court.

RULE 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 in court, 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/post-sentence investigations with face to
face 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/post-sentence 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 face
to face 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 face to face 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 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.

     (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 non-compliance 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.

RULE 11.3 STATUTORY PROBATION SERVICE FEES TO BE USED FOR PROBATION SERVICES

     All positions, which are funded by statutory probation
service fees, shall be limited to working with individuals or
cases who are on probation.  Any additional funds raised from
statutory probation services fees beyond what is necessary to
fund the positions in the probation department shall be used to
provide additional levels of probation services.


[Adopted effective September 1, 2001.]