Bilingual Pretrial Officer - Prescreening Division
Harris County, Houston, TX, United States
Under general supervision, the Pretrial Officer will be responsible for preparing reports on defendants that assist the courts with pretrial release and detention decisions, indigency determination and other related processes.
Duties and Responsibilities
Initiate and coordinate activities to access defendants in the city and county jails.
Interview defendants and elicit needed information.
Investigate and document the criminal and social history of interviewed defendants.
Consolidate information compiled on defendants and assess the risk of misconduct.
Appear in court to present defendant reports.
Convey supplemental information about release options to the judiciary, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Evaluate the defendant's ability to comply with release conditions and apprise the court of compliance problems.
Instruct defendants about conditions and obligations of release.
Coordinate activities necessary to implement judicially ordered release conditions.
Complete reports and generate computer mainframe transactions that provide information necessary to document department activities.
Testify in court.
Respond to inquiries from defendants and the public about the pre‑trial process.
Collaborate with personnel in Criminal Justice and Human Service agencies, representatives of the legal community and others to achieve department goals.
Perform all tasks accurately and thoroughly within demanding timeframes.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Counseling, or other closely related field from an accredited university or college.
Bachelor's degree in any other field of study from an accredited university or college;
A minimum of one (1) year of full‑time paid experience in a Criminal Justice setting; or
A minimum of two (2) years of volunteer experience in a Criminal Justice or Social Sciences setting.
Licenses
Valid driver's license (Texas upon hire), reliable transportation and current auto liability insurance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Bilingual in English & Spanish – bilingual incentive pay will be based on testing scores.
Effective communication, interaction, and organizational skills.
Excellent documentation skills.
Ability to perform tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
Demonstrated tolerance for diverse populations.
Additional Requirements
All new employees are required to present evidence of a TB skin test prior to employment.
Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, all applicants are screened for the presence of illegal drugs.
Criminal Background Check
Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically.
Automatic Disqualification
Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor.
Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years.
Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor).
Family Violence conviction.
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work
Regular Full‑time | 40 Hours Per Week
Evening and Midnight Shifts
Holiday Hours/Overtime as Required
Days off vary
Salary
Depends on Qualifications
Bilingual incentive pay will be based on testing scores.
Based on 26 Pay Periods
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx.
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications, positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Initiate and coordinate activities to access defendants in the city and county jails.
Interview defendants and elicit needed information.
Investigate and document the criminal and social history of interviewed defendants.
Consolidate information compiled on defendants and assess the risk of misconduct.
Appear in court to present defendant reports.
Convey supplemental information about release options to the judiciary, prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Evaluate the defendant's ability to comply with release conditions and apprise the court of compliance problems.
Instruct defendants about conditions and obligations of release.
Coordinate activities necessary to implement judicially ordered release conditions.
Complete reports and generate computer mainframe transactions that provide information necessary to document department activities.
Testify in court.
Respond to inquiries from defendants and the public about the pre‑trial process.
Collaborate with personnel in Criminal Justice and Human Service agencies, representatives of the legal community and others to achieve department goals.
Perform all tasks accurately and thoroughly within demanding timeframes.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Counseling, or other closely related field from an accredited university or college.
Bachelor's degree in any other field of study from an accredited university or college;
A minimum of one (1) year of full‑time paid experience in a Criminal Justice setting; or
A minimum of two (2) years of volunteer experience in a Criminal Justice or Social Sciences setting.
Licenses
Valid driver's license (Texas upon hire), reliable transportation and current auto liability insurance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Bilingual in English & Spanish – bilingual incentive pay will be based on testing scores.
Effective communication, interaction, and organizational skills.
Excellent documentation skills.
Ability to perform tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
Demonstrated tolerance for diverse populations.
Additional Requirements
All new employees are required to present evidence of a TB skin test prior to employment.
Upon receiving a conditional offer of employment, all applicants are screened for the presence of illegal drugs.
Criminal Background Check
Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically.
Automatic Disqualification
Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor.
Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years.
Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor).
Family Violence conviction.
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work
Regular Full‑time | 40 Hours Per Week
Evening and Midnight Shifts
Holiday Hours/Overtime as Required
Days off vary
Salary
Depends on Qualifications
Bilingual incentive pay will be based on testing scores.
Based on 26 Pay Periods
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx.
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications, positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
#J-18808-Ljbffr