Pretrial Hearings Officer (Probation Counselor II) | Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Pretrial Hearings Officer (Probation Counselor II)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Job Number: 25-02014
Salary: $68,774.37 - $114,625.06
Closing Date: November 21, 2025
This position is located in the Community Corrections Services Unit, which serves a diverse, multi-lingual adult population referred to the Court for charges that are domestic in nature or where the victim is a minor. This position reviews all defendants’ cases prior to arraignments using the arrest warrant, bail determination sheet, Virginia Court-Appointed Counsel sheet, criminal and traffic histories, defendant demographics sheet, Virginia Pretrial Risk Assessment Instrument (VPRAI) with Praxis recommendation, the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen and all reference notes collected during the initial jail interview. Formulates a recommendation and presents recommendations regarding bond, conditions of release and court-appointed counsel eligibility to the Judiciary in court at arraignments.
Conducts initial interview of defendants in the jail if not completed at time of arrest. Initial interview includes entering all demographic information into the PSLP database and completion of the VPRAI and the Virginia Court Appointed Counsel sheet. Collects data from arresting documents, Brief Jail Mental Health Screen, information gathered from personal interviews with defendants and completes reference checks by verifying the information with family, friends, employers and co-workers. Computer systems including the Fairfax County local record system, VCIN/NCIC and DMV, are used to obtain defendants criminal histories.
Maintains small caseload of defendants who are placed on pretrial supervision in accordance with the referring judges orders and in compliance with local and state mandated policy. Notifies the referring Judge of any violations and testifies in Court as needed. Utilizes evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), and interventions such as Carey Guides and EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision) to assist individuals through pretrial supervision and address any risk and need factors identified. Aids defendants in obtaining employment, treatment, housing, and other community services. Conducts alcohol and drug testing as appropriate and runs VCIN/NCIC record checks as necessary. Ensures case data is entered into the Department of Criminal Justice Services database, PSLP (Pretrial Services and Local Probation), in accordance with agency and state-mandated guidelines. Ensures all paperwork is accurate, thorough and completed in a timely fashion.
Completes the jail review process of all incarcerated defendants pending trial to determine their eligibility for the Pretrial Supervision Program, personal recognizance, a court appointed attorney or a change in court date to expedite case resolution. Collects and submits specific data points for use in statistical reports.
