NC 04410
Rev OSP 10/04
JUVENILE COURT COUNSELOR I
Work in this class involves providing case management services, counseling, and supervision of
adjudicated undisciplined or delinquent juveniles, to assure compliance with court ordered dispositions.
Work involves the assessment of juvenile and family needs to develop and implement plans for
treatment and complying with court orders; monitoring juvenile and family progress through home,
residential placement, or training school, office, and school visits. Work also involves contact with other
human service agencies providing services to the family and providing transitional and post-release
supervision and support services to facilitate community re-entry and continuing treatment needs.
Employees may also be responsible for evaluating petitions and complaints against juveniles to
determine whether to divert the complaint or to initiate court action; conducting in-depth risk and needs
assessments, and family social histories to develop treatment and sanction recommendations for
disposition; serving as an officer of the Court to issue and serve court orders and documents, and to
apprehend and secure physical custody of juveniles. Employees participate in interagency,
multidisciplinary planning and delinquency prevention activities.
I. DIFFICULTY OF WORK
Variety and Scope – Employees provide court ordered supervision, counseling, and supportive services
to adjudicated juveniles which involves assessment of individual needs and family dynamics to plan,
develop, and implement supervision and treatment plans designed to ensure compliance with
dispositions and effect behavioral change. Counseling is provided on an individual and family basis to
address a variety of needs and dysfunctions that contributed to the juvenile’s adjudicated status.
Employees refer juveniles and family members to appropriate programs and services to address mental
health, psychological, substance abuse, or other needs.
Intricacy – Employees use considerable judgment and analysis in conducting assessments of juvenile
needs and family dynamics, and in selecting treatment and counseling approaches. Counseling
services provided for each case may involve several family members in addition to the juvenile and
span a range of moderately complex needs. Employees utilize knowledge of law and statutory
guidelines when making reports and recommendations to the court.
Subject Matter Complexity – Work requires a thorough understanding of juvenile law and statutory
guidelines, counseling techniques and treatment approaches of a crisis and supportive nature. Work
requires understanding the availability and interactions of a variety of community services, agencies,
and professional service providers to plan for provision of services and to refer juveniles and family
members to appropriate resources.
Guidelines – Include state juvenile laws and statutory guidelines, agency guidelines, policies, and
procedures, Minimum Standards, Elements of Crime, and District Juvenile Court Rules and
Administrative Procedures.
II. RESPONSIBILITY
Nature of Instructions – Case management and support services are guided by statutes, legal
guidelines, court orders, and program policies and standards. Basic assessments and services are
provided with considerable independence. Decisions involving after hours, crisis issues, or decisions
significantly impacting the juvenile, family, or the community are first reviewed with the supervisor for
direction.
NC 04410
Rev OSP 10/04
Nature of Review – Work is reviewed regularly by a Juvenile Court Counselor Supervisor or Chief Court
Counselor who provide coaching and supportive and corrective direction. Employees function
independently on a day-to-day basis; however, all cases are reviewed for conformance to juvenile law
and quality control purposes.
Scope of Decisions – Directly affects juveniles and their families, the community and general public,
victims, and community agencies.
Consequence of Decisions – Assessments, recommendations, and service/treatment decisions affect
the safety of juveniles, the community, and the general public; and impact the individual freedoms/legal
rights and psychological, emotional, physical health and well being of the juvenile.
III. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Scope of Contacts – Includes juveniles and families, law enforcement, court officials, judges, attorneys,
community and human service agencies, school officials and personnel, psychologists and other
professional service providers.
Nature and Purpose – Employees work with juveniles and families in the development and
implementation of supervision and treatment plans, and to provide a range of supportive services in
addition to individual and family counseling. Frequent contact is required to supervise and counsel
juveniles, gather information, monitor and maintain documentation of progress, locate and refer
juveniles and families to appropriate resources.
IV. OTHER WORK DEMANDS:
Work Conditions – Employees work in a variety of settings which range from office, court facilities,
hospitals, institutional facilities, school facilities, and often involve visits to residential environments for
client visits.
Hazards – Includes contacts with clients and/or family members who may be hostile, resistant, and
violent. Behavioral problems and aggression in juveniles and family members could result in bodily
injury.
V. RECRUITMENT STANDARDS:
Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of adolescent development, and family, group, and juvenile delinquency
dynamics and intervention techniques. Thorough knowledge of a wide range of behavioral,
socioeconomic, and psychosocial problems and their treatment. Knowledge of juvenile laws, statutory
guidelines, procedures, and requirements, and social agencies and community resources relevant to
the program and client needs. Skill in establishing rapport with juveniles and families and in assessing
family dysfunction and psychosocial, behavioral, and psychological aspects of juveniles’ problems.
Skilled in crisis intervention and the application of counseling techniques and principles. Ability to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with juveniles and families, as well as civic, legal,
and social organizations, school and Court personnel. Ability to impartially analyze information,
communicate clearly and concisely, and plan and execute work to effectively manage workload.
NC 04410
Rev OSP 10/04
Minimum Training and Experience Requirements
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in a human services field such as social
work, psychology, counseling, or criminal justice and two years of experience in counseling or a human
services field, preferably with the client population; or, a master’s degree in a human service field and
one year of experience in counseling or a human services field; or, an equivalent combination of
training and experience.
Minimum Training and Experience Requirements for Trainee Appointment
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in a human services field such as social
work, psychology, counseling, or criminal justice.
Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are
subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal
Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC
Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.
Special Note
This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to identify essential
functions per ADA. Examples of work are primarily essential functions of the majority of positions in
this class, but may not be applicable to all positions.