COURT SERVICES OFFICER - JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT SERVICES

Kitsap County is seeking a Court Services Officer to join our Juvenile and Family Court Services Department. This is an essential role that directly supports youth, families, and the safety of our community. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of young people while contributing to the long-term wellbeing of the broader community. Your work will shape case outcomes, support vulnerable youth in crisis, and guide families through some of their most challenging moments. As a Court Services Officer, you will step into a multifaceted role that blends investigation, case management, court testimony, family engagement, and community collaboration. You'll serve at the intersection of the justice system, social services, and child welfare, where dedicated professionals can make meaningful contributions to public service, youth development, and restorative justice. This role offers an outstanding career-building opportunity for individuals ready to deepen their impact in juvenile justice or social service fields. You'll gain broad exposure to dependency, offender, non-offender, and BECCA matters while working closely with courts, schools, treatment providers, families, and partner agencies. If you're looking for a meaningful role where your expertise directly strengthens community safety and child wellbeing, this is your next step. As a Court Services Officer, you will: Conduct pre-sentence, background, restitution, and other investigations; prepare pre-sentence, declination, and dispositional reports; and present findings and recommendations to Superior or Juvenile Court. Prepare, file, and distribute motions, declarations, affidavits, court orders, and related court documents, and provide testimony in court for warrants, dependency review hearings, and trials. Interview youth and families to assess community and flight risk, placement options, detention and release considerations, and needed services. Serve as Guardian ad Litem in dependency actions and as custody investigator in family law cases, submitting detailed findings and recommendations to support child welfare and permanency planning. Supervise a caseload of adjudicated youth by monitoring compliance with court-ordered conditions, verifying program participation, and completing diversion processes as appropriate. Conduct announced and unannounced home visits, gather evidence when required, complete risk assessments, and develop case plans based on assessment outcomes and program eligibility. Coordinate with the Interstate Compact for home evaluations, supervision of out-of-state youth, and extradition-related paperwork. Prepare and maintain case files, schedule hearings, notify parties, and participate in offender, non-offender, BECCA, and family law matters. Refer youth to appropriate services and treatment programs and support them in meeting probation requirements through ongoing verification and engagement. Maintain collaborative relationships with schools to address attendance, academic performance, and behavioral concerns, working with families to explore solutions. Maintain accurate, detailed documentation and case records throughout all stages of service delivery.

What you bring:

Professional and educational qualifications: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social or behavioral science, law enforcement or a closely related field AND four years of progressively responsible experience in juvenile social work, counseling, court services, or probation, including at least one year coordinating and supervising programs for high-risk youth. Relevant work experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for educational requirements. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional education.

Technical/Industry background:

Experience managing complex caseloads, making critical independent decisions, and guiding youth and families through multifaceted legal and social service systems. Knowledge of juvenile justice processes, dependency systems, risk assessment tools, and court procedures. Experience preparing investigative reports, court documents, and formal recommendations.

Specialized Expertise:

Skilled in interviewing, crisis assessment, case planning, and presenting testimony in both juvenile and superior court. Ability to conduct home visits, evaluate living conditions, and assess safety and suitability. Understanding of BECCA laws, diversion processes, and interstate compact procedures.

Communication/Interpersonal skills:

Strong communication abilities to interact effectively with youth, families, judges, attorneys, schools, and service providers. Demonstrated ability to build rapport, manage conflict, and maintain professionalism in emotionally charged situations. High attention to detail for documentation and recordkeeping.

Additional preferred qualifications:

Experience in juvenile probation, dependency casework, or family law investigations. Familiarity with community resources, treatment programs, and youth behavioral interventions.

For the complete job description:

https://test.kitsap.gov/hr/JobClassifications/Court%20Services%20Officer.pdf For more information about

Juvenile and Family Court Services:

https://www.kitsap.gov/juv/Pages/default.aspx

Who May Apply :

This position is open open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills. This position is classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position is represented by AFSCME-1308JC and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the union. Employees joining the union will be required to pay union dues through payroll deduction. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions. Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office. This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position, and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months. Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Alternate schedules are available, as approved by management. Prior to employment, the successful candidate must: Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications. Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting. Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. Driving Requirements (If applicable) The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver's License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy.

This position is categorized as:

Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle. Category 2 : Driver operates a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business. Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.