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.
The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office (SRF) is seeking a Behavioral Health Docket Pretrial Counselor to manage participants placed on the Behavioral Health Docket. The Behavioral Health Docket is a pre-plea and a post-plea docket that will serve defendants charged with misdemeanors or felonies who are suffering from serious mental illness or dual diagnosis (SMI/DD) who voluntarily agree to participate in Court-supervised treatment and community support in lieu of jail. The docket will serve Arlington County residents and Arlington unhoused involved in Arlington's General District Court.
Specific duties include:
- Supervising and regularly meeting with clients in Behavioral Health Docket, Bond Diversion, and Post Booking programs;
- Attending court hearings, team meetings, and providing courtroom testimony as needed;
- Conducting screenings, assessments, and criminal history checks to determine client eligibility and support pretrial recommendations;
- Monitoring compliance with treatment plans, court orders, and conditions of release, including drug testing and progress reviews;
- Developing and adjusting individualized treatment and supervision plans; recommending incentives, sanctions, or terminations as appropriate;
- Connecting clients to community services such as housing, food, employment, and behavioral health providers;
- Maintaining accurate and confidential case documentation, reports, and records; and
- Supporting clients through program completion, including graduation planning and post-program resource linkage.
The ideal candidate will have strong writing skills to compose letters and narrative reports, wide-ranging interpersonal skills to explain rules and procedures clearly, as well as problem solving skills to gather relevant information to solve vaguely defined practical problems.
Minimum:
- Bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice, or related field; and
- Considerable experience providing social, psychological or correctional services to clients and/or inmates including one (1) year of which must have been providing counseling, services, program development or related for inmates in a correctional facility.
Substitution: Additional education may be substituted for experience. Additional experience may be substituted for education.
Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s degree in a related field and/or one or more of the following experiences:
- Providing case management services to clients classified as mentally ill or dually diagnosed; and/or Program management and partnering with multiple stakeholders to achieve program goals.
Special Requirements
Polygraph/Background Check: Due to the sensitive nature of this position, the Sheriff’s Department will conduct pre-employment criminal records checks and polygraph examinations. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, character/background investigation, and credit history. You must sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
Additional Information
Work Hours: 40 hours/week, Monday - Friday. This position is not telework-eligible.
This position reports directly to the Pretrial Director (Lieutenant) but also works closely with the Assistant Director of Inmate Services/Programs (Captain), Director of Corrections (Major), and Behavioral Health Team.
Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions.
Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The official job title for this position is Inmate Services Counselor II.
This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.
For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here .
Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment .
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