Probation Careers

Who We Are

The County of San Diego Probation Department is an organization of highly skilled individuals with a shared mission to protect public safety by supporting their clients to restore their lives, families, and communities. Our team of more than one thousand San Diegans are dedicated to providing services while balancing support and accountability. We offer competitive pay, excellent county benefits, and numerous career paths for our probation officers to develop their skills and grow. Join us at the County of San Diego Probation Department and help make a real difference in your community.

Positions

The Probation Department has two entry-level positions for peace officers:

• Correctional Deputy Probation Officer I
• Deputy Probation Officer

The department also has many administrative and support positions. See descriptions and benefits information for all Probation jobs. We also hire student workers and interns.  

How To Apply

You must apply online online on the Department of Human Resources job postings site. For more information call 858-514-3148.

General Requirements for Peace Officers

• Candidates must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness.
• Felony convictions will be disqualifying.
• Misdemeanor convictions may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and recency.
• Before appointment, candidates will undergo a thorough background investigation. That may include a psychological, polygraph or other test.
• Candidates must be found by a licensed physician to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental conditions that might adversely affect exercising the powers of a peace officer.
• Must meet employment guidelines and standards established by the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

Physical Requirements for Peace Officers

Video of the physical fitness requirements

Background Questionnaire

Sworn Officer Background Questionnaire  (Fill this out only when asked to do so)

Peace Officer Position Summaries

For complete descriptions and salary and benefits information, follow links to the County’s job postings site.

Correctional Deputy Probation Officer I (CDPO)

Correctional Deputy Probation Officer I (CDPO) is the entry-level peace officer position in the department.  CDPO's work in juvenile correctional facilities. They have limited peace officer status and often work late night shifts and weekends.

Duties include:

• Maintain order and security in the facilities,
• Provide orientation to new detainees,
• Escort detainees when they are transported,
• Monitor meals, recreation, education, and work project activities,
• Conduct inspections and searches,
• Calculate court-ordered detention time,
• Maintain records and files,
• Counsel detainees, assess treatment needs, and write incident reports.

Positions in this classification are peace officers as defined in Section 830 of the California Penal Code, and must meet employment guidelines and standards established by the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), the provisions of Sections 1029 and 1031 of the California Government Code, and STC Selection and Training Standards as contained in Title 15, Section 100-358, California Code of Regulations.

Applicants must be 21 years old by the time of appointment. They must be a U.S. citizen or in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. This position may require carrying a weapon and meeting certification requirements.

Deputy Probation Officer (DPO)

Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) is the journey level position of the DPO class series. DPOs handle professional casework for both juvenile and adult clients, supervise clients, and participate as working members of the institutional treatment and counseling teams.

Duties include:

• Conducting social history investigations and writing case history presentence reports, which the court uses to assist in determining appropriate dispositions in both adult and juvenile cases,
• Making plans for the rehabilitation of juveniles in both home and institutional settings,
• Supervising, counseling, aiding, and encouraging juvenile and adult clients.

Positions in this classification are peace officers as defined in Section 830 of the California Penal Code, and must meet employment guidelines and standards established by the Commission for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), the provisions of Sections 1029 and 1031 of the California Government Code, and STC Selection and Training Standards as contained in Title 15, Section 100-358, California Code of Regulations.

Applicants must be 21 years of age by the time of appointment and must be a U.S. citizen or in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. This position may require carrying a weapon and meeting certification requirements.

Student Workers and Internships

Student Worker

Probation's Student Worker program offers full-time college students the opportunity to work with juveniles or adults in institutional or community settings. Student workers must be 18 years old. Work hours are available nights and weekends in the institutional setting. Students can work up to 20 hours a week. To apply, please visit the Job Postings.

Internship

Probation's internship program offers placements for local college students who elect their internship in a criminal justice setting. This is an excellent way for students to gain experience and skills necessary to further a career working with adults and juveniles in the department. Interns must commit to a minimum of 190 hours. All interns must be referred by an educational entity. To apply, please visit the Job Postings.