Bilingual Adult Probation Counselor (English/Spanish)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County's Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) is seeking a Bilingual Adult Probation Counselor (English/Spanish) to join the Adult Probation Unit of the Court Services Unit. This position will be responsible for providing clients with court-ordered probation and supportive services, completing pre-sentence investigations and reports, developing supervision plans, preparing and maintaining reports and records, and providing verbal and written reports to the Court. The position will also assist in the management of a specialized program providing services to probation clients and their families. 

The Adult Probation Unit provides services for adult offenders to encourage family stability and to protect the community through conducting presentence investigations, supervising defendants and coordinating effective and efficient interventions and services. These services are provided to a racially and ethnically diverse population, of whom many speak Spanish and may have limited English-speaking skills.

Specific duties include: 

• Conducting investigations into social and legal history of cases;

• Attending court hearings and testifying in court;

• Monitoring and assisting clients to comply with court orders;

• Counseling clients and family members to support their engagement in needed services;

• Consulting with treatment professionals, such as psychologists, therapists, or service providers;

• Making referrals for appropriate treatment programs and services, and tracking client progress;

• Preparing legal documents, correspondence, pre-sentence reports, memos; and

• Documenting case activities and maintaining probation records.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of the court system, cultural competence, and knowledge of community-based resources, particularly those supporting substance use recovery and mental health treatment. 

Experience working with diverse populations, especially Spanish-speaking individuals, is highly valued.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in social work, corrections, psychology, education, sociology, Criminal Justice or related field; 

• Considerable experience in probation, social work, crisis intervention or family counseling including at least one year which required working within a legal/court/probation environment; and

• Must be bilingual in English/Spanish.

   

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the education requirement. 

Desirable Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing probation services to clients within the juvenile or adult justice system;

• Training and using motivational interviewing techniques;

  • Writing pre-sentence or social history reports;

    • Proficiency in use of evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral, practice models in community supervision of clients; and/or

      • Providing written and verbal testimony in court.

Special Requirements

An assessment of verbal Spanish proficiency would be required before a candidate can be appointed to a bilingual position (English/Spanish). The incumbent in a bilingual position would receive the language pay premium on all hours worked and on paid leave hours.  

A pre-employment criminal record check will be conducted to include National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check, Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) background check, FBI fingerprints, and a Virginia Department of Social Services Child Protective Services Central Registry Search. 

Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of em