Employment

Frequently Asked Questions

Probation Aide: Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university. Note: Up to one year of the required education may be substituted by experience in full-time, or equivalent part-time, paid law enforcement or correctional work in a probation agency, parole agency, or correctional institution on the basis of 173.6 work hours = 21.7 work days = 1 work month = 3 semester or 4.5 quarter units.

Assistant Probation Officer: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Up to one year of the required education may be substituted by experience in full-time, or equivalent part-time, paid law enforcement or correctional work in a probation agency, parole agency, or correctional institution on the basis of 173.6 work hours = 21.7 work days = 1 work month = 3 semester or 4.5 quarter units.

Deputy Probation Officer: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university; and

Either: One year of full-time paid professional experience in correctional work subsequent to the degree in a County, State or Federal probation, parole or law enforcement agency

Or: One year of social casework experience in a County State, or Federal agency.

Or: One year as a Probation Assistant with Sacramento County.

Or: The equivalent of one (1) year as a Probation Aide (On-Call) with Sacramento County.

NOTE: To compute full-time equivalency of Probation Aide experience: 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month.

To meet the education requirements, applicants must have credits from school, college, university, or accredited institution. Please refer to the following sites to verify accreditation:

Schools that are ACICS accredited DO NOT qualify. If you are unsure of your school's accreditation, refer to the school's admission office. 

The Candidate Orientation Booklets below provide an overview of the exam format and some sample questions. The booklets are not intended to be a study guide but rather are aimed at reducing test anxiety and giving candidates some information about what to expect on the test.

Apply online at the Sacramento County - Human Resources Agency website: www.SacCountyJobs.net.  All applications must be submitted online by 5:00 pm on the filing deadline date.  For your convenience, computer kiosks are available for your use at the Employment Services Division located at 700 H Street, Room 4667, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Candidates are held to the standard of Peace Officer Dimensions as outlined by POST-Peace Officer Standards and Training.

  • Turn in Personal History Summary (PHS) with honest and accurate information.  The Department reviews each case independently when evaluating qualified, honest candidates for hire.  If you are unsure whether or not to report information in your background, report it.  It is understandable a candidate may be concerned with personal legal, DMV, credit, employment, and/or drug use history. However, withholding personal information which will be discovered later can poorly reflect on your moral character for a position with the Probation Department.
  • Prescreen conducted
  • Reference letters will be sent to: legal, DMV, credit, previous employers, and personal references
  • Orientation, physical ability testing, and multiple choice testing
  • A background investigator will be assigned
  • Meet with background investigator
  • Hiring Authority extends conditional offer of employment – subject to the candidate successfully completing: Psychological and Medical Exams
  • Begin paid Academy

Yes.

Some positions assigned to Field Services are armed. However, many positions, both in Field Services and other divisions, are not armed.

The process usually takes 6-12 months from the application cut-off date deadline that you applied for.

Aides are allowed to work up to 40+ hours per week. Aides cannot work more then 1560 hours per calendar year.  Any overtime will not be counted towards your allotted 1560 hours.

No. Aides are considered part-time employees.

The Youth Detention Facility is operational 24 hours a day.  Your shift can be a morning, swing or graveyard shift.  Shifts vary but they are usually 8, 10 or 12-hour shifts. Aides are expected to work weekends and holidays.

Positive engagement with minors is expected.  You are responsible for ensuring the safety of minors and fellow co-workers through accountability and policy adherence.   You will also assist other staff members in engaging with minors and facilitating  structured institutional programming.  Minors will participate in the following: hygiene, meals, school, recreational activities and programming activities.

  • Safety Retirement
  • Salary Step increases; medical benefits
  • Diverse work locations and assignments
  • Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
  • Paid training and tuition reimbursement
  • Advancement opportunities

Consider the following:

  • Enroll in a PC 832 Arrest, Search, and Seizure course at the local college or regional safety center. Possessing this certification will assist in prioritizing your background.
  • Demonstrate you enjoy interacting with children
  • Seek employment working with children
  • Volunteer, specifically with children: coaching, mentoring, tutoring
  • Internship experience
  • Community involvement
  • Continue pursuing your education through degrees and/or certifications
  • Be available to work at a 24-hour facility
  • Be mindful of the decisions you make as you strive to be a representative of the law enforcement profession
  • Avoid common Background Disqualifiers