Pretrial Services Specialist

Job Description

Court Services Officer 1 (Criminal Division-Pretrial Services) | New Jersey Courts

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at New Jersey Courts, located in Jersey City, NJ, with hybrid remote work options. The New Jersey Judiciary is an 8500-member strong team that operates with the highest standards of independence, integrity, fairness, and quality service. This role offers work with purpose and meaning, making a difference in the lives of the public served. The Judiciary strives to build public trust and confidence in the court system, addressing issues such as bail reform, marijuana decriminalization, and recovery court.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Jersey City, NJ
• Pay: $54434–$89181 yearly
• Team: Criminal Division – Pretrial Services Program
• Mission: Ensure the appearance in court and public safety of pretrial defendants through comprehensive assessment, monitoring, and support services.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Assess Cases: Research criminal case histories and conduct pretrial risk assessments.
• Report Findings: Prepare detailed reports and recommendations for judges regarding conditions of pretrial release for defendants.
• Conduct Hearings: Staff first appearance/Central Judicial Processing hearings and pretrial detention hearings.
• Monitor Compliance: Monitor the conditions of pretrial release for defendants and report non-compliance to the court.
• Provide Support: Assist pretrial defendants in attaining specific goals to ensure court appearance and public safety, including making referrals for social services, testing, treatment, and counseling.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, coupled with one year of paraprofessional experience in case management involving gathering, reviewing, and verifying case-related information.
• Experience: One year of paraprofessional experience that included conducting investigations, monitoring casework flow, interviewing clients or customers for needed information, preparing investigative fact-finding reports, and/or writing case notes or other case-related correspondence. An associate degree plus two years of additional paraprofessional or professional experience, or additional paraprofessional/professional experience on a year-for-year basis, may substitute for the bachelor’s degree.
• Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, and demonstrated case management skills.
• Bonus: Prior experience with pretrial services programs is helpful for this position.