Practicum and Volunteer Opportunities

Practicum and Volunteer Opportunities

The Vision of the Community Corrections Division is to implement programs and resources that reduce recidivism through the use of Evidence Based Practices (EBP) in collaboration with the community and justice partners.   We embrace EBP and Community Policing as guiding philosophies to deliver supervision service to our client population. Key EBP components of our division are the use of assessments, change contracts, motivational interviewing and utilizing sanctions and services that reduce risk and promote client change.

We are responsible for the supervision of clients placed on probation by the Courts or released on post-prison supervision following incarceration. We promote positive change in clients with the goal of reducing future criminal behavior in our community.

Our Division employs 64 full time employees, which includes support staff, case aides, and certified Parole and Probation Deputies. Currently, we provide supervision for over 2,400 clients in Marion County. Of those, about 900 are on limited supervision through the Limited Supervision Unit. The average caseload size for our 34 case carrying Parole and Probation Deputies is 52.

Parole and Probation Deputies provide the highest level of supervision to clients who present the greatest risk to the community. Caseloads are divided into specific high and medium-risk assignments to more closely align with EBP. Direct supervision caseloads are organized into geographic regions with the county; facilitating community partnerships, familiarity with the community, and effective community policing. Additionally, there are specialized caseloads for sex offenders, gang members, mental health, domestic violence, and clients participating in specialty court programs.

The role of the Parole and Probation Deputy is a combination of counselor and law enforcement officer. Deputies utilize risk/need assessments, motivational interviewing techniques, change contracts, and appropriate referrals to community resources with the goal of eliciting positive change in client behavior. Many of our deputies facilitate Motivation and Cognitive Restructuring groups to help encourage offenders to change. Deputies also conduct home visits, office interviews, urinalysis testing, make arrests and impose swift and sure sanctions to help hold clients accountable for their negative behaviors. Furthermore, deputies prepare written reports and testify in hearings regarding client compliance with supervision.

We collaborate with a number of community partnerships such as Chemeketa Community College, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, Marion County Circuit Court, and the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. Our efforts have enhanced our ability to provide transition services, victim services, and specialized support for the Drug Endangered Children initiative, Drug Court, Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court. The Community Corrections Division continues our community involvement and participation in Neighborhood Association meetings as well as various community events and presentations. Although we are quite proud of our community partnerships, we are constantly seeking to expand our effort in this area.

We have adopted a division motto, which sums up our approach:

Hope to change.
Courage to make it happen.
Determination to follow through.

Requirements

Work Duties  

• Conduct personal interview with the client, their family members, employers, etc.

• Confer with staff, supervisors, and other public agencies as they pertain to the client.

• Gather and document information regarding the offender, such as: employment status; status of client’s participation in court-ordered programs (treatment, community service, etc.); status of court-ordered financial obligations; collateral contact information; obtain legal documents; and monthly reports.

• Maintain chronological case history and information.

• Perform clerical duties of supervising parole and probation deputy or other staff.

• Attend activities as directed, such as: court, training, and community events.

• Accompany parole and probation deputies while they supervise clients in the community, at the discretion of the assigned, supervising deputy.

• Any other tasks as assigned by the supervising parole and probation deputy or other staff.

• Work assignments can be with a specialized unit (i.e., Sex Offender Unit, Drug Endangered Children Unit, Special Services Unit, and Domestic Violence Unit) or the General Supervision Unit.

Qualifications 

• Must be at least 20 years old.

• Able to pass a criminal background check (no criminal convictions). NOTE: Background process can take up to 3 months to complete.

• Bilingual is preferred but not mandatory.

• Possess the Office's values: humility, diligence, courage, and professionalism.

• Good organizational skills, flexible, and possess overarching philosophy that offenders can change.

Requirements 

• Volunteers: Work at least 8 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months; and Letter of Recommendation from current/last employer (or equivalent).

• Practicum: Work a minimum of 400 hours; and Letter of Recommendation from school advisor/professor.

• Workdays: Flexible.

• Driver’s License: Required.