Probation Officer Trainee; Juvenile

Job Posting

JR Probation Officer Trainee (Juvenile) (Open)

Supreme Court - Agency 5

Columbus, NE

$20.278

01-23-2026

The Judicial Branch is a state‑funded branch of the government that offers the following benefits:

• Medical/dental/vision
• $20,000 free basic life insurance
• State-matched 156% retirement plan
• 13 paid holidays
• Earned paid vacation and sick leave
• and more

This entry‑level position involves orientation and training under close supervision for a year to allow the trainee to gain experience and develop ability. Incumbents are trained to perform investigatory and supervisory responsibilities involving offenders under direct supervision for an assigned district. Training includes managing a caseload; preparing investigation reports; supervising offenders; conducting intake and detention interviews; testifying in courts; performing drug and alcohol testing;

arresting or detaining defendants under directions; and managing and maintaining electronic monitoring equipment.

Starting Salary: $42,178.47 per year.

• Become familiar with various types of pre‑sentence/pre‑disposition investigations for adults and juvenile offenders, including conducting intake and assessment interviews with offenders, families, and others to gather information on the individual and determine environmental factors that led to delinquent behaviors.
• Be familiar with providing recommendations for sentencing to the court based on case findings, and be trained on presenting information verbally and in writing before the court and completing intake paperwork.
• Become familiar with performing risk assessments to determine proper supervision level of client; recommending incentives and/or sanctions based on assessment; monitoring drug screens.
• Be introduced and trained on meeting with clients on probation to provide counseling, complete case reporting, and other functions of managing a caseload (conducting assessments or follow‑ups; providing direction to help clients accomplish court requirements; providing referrals to community resources including food, shelter, and work).
• Be introduced and trained on preparing violation reports, compliance reports, and conducting record checks; training also includes the entering and updating client information into appropriate systems; determining reports to send to the court for updates.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

The above classification responsibilities represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in social services, criminal justice. Consideration will be given to candidates receiving their degree within 120 days of application.

All educational credits must be granted from an accredited institution approved by the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Hiring Rate (probation): $42,178.47 per year
After probation rate: $43,232.95 per year

• Customer service principles.
• Criminal Justice system, laws, legal codes, and court procedures.
• Interview and assessment procedures and practices.
• Intervention policies and procedures.
• Signs of various forms of abuse, mental health issues, or neglect.
• Crisis intervention techniques.
• Modern office procedures and equipment.
• Record‑keeping principles.
• Document review techniques.
• Computers and related software applications.

• Making home‑visits.
• Interviewing probationers.
• Tracking probationers’ location(s).
• Utilizing probation and protective techniques.
• Applying applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Preparing activity reports and updating databases.

Incumbents may be subjected to environmental threats, odors, dusts, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and travel.

Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to…