Katherine Allen
South Elgin
Summary
Experienced probation officer with substantial experience in managing caseloads, conducting risk assessments, and developing rehabilitation plans. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, ensuring reliability and adaptability to changing needs. Expertise includes conflict resolution, case management, and legal compliance, with personality that values integrity, empathy, and effective communication.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Probation Officer – low risk
02.2026 - Current
- Mentored staff (formally through the mentor/mentee program since 2009 and informally)
- Supervised interns (2002-2014, 2021, 2026)
Senior Probation Officer – FOCUS
06.2021 - 02.2026
- Became a facilitator for Moral Reconation Therapy (2025)
- Attended the Illinois Association for Problem Solving Courts conference (2025)
- DRB committee member
- Created agendas, ran team meetings and typed meeting minutes.
Senior Probation Officer – Floater/Internship Coordinator
04.2018 - 06.2021
- Obtained internship affiliation agreements with partnering schools, most notably NIU
- Recruited interns, interviewed, hired and supervised them during the semester. Was the contact person for the school.
- Attended the NIU Sociology department internship/recruitment panel (2019)
- Participated in a round table discussion with the Public Defender’s office to inform their interns about probation.
- Recruited guest speakers for intern from the ASA office and PD office
Senior Probation Officer – Detention Screening and Transport
10.2016 - 04.2018
- Attended training by the Community Corrections Institute for Leadership Competencies for Probation and Managing Change & Leadership Transition(2017)
- Attended the leadership academy and then trained on the teamwork module
- Was a speaker on a law enforcement panel at a national AA conference (2017)
Probation Officer – Mental Health specialty
12.2000 - 10.2016
- Was asked to conduct a pilot run of a low risk caseload (2005)
- Supervised interns
- Played a key role in developing the cannabis cog group, facilitated groups, recruited other officers to run groups.
- Staff development
- Probation presentations at Judson University and Elmhurst College for sociology classes
- PCMS super user
- Assisted the job readiness program doing mock interviews with probationers and providing feedback
Probation Officer – Juvenile Investigations
06.1999 - 12.2000
- Supervised interns
- Became a Thinking for a Change facilitator
- Became LEADS certified in 2000
- Policy and procedure manual committee (2007-2008)
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology - Emphasis Criminology
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL12-1993
Skills
- Offender supervision
- Team building and support
- Communication
- Staff development
- Organization and record keeping
- Client advocacy
- Courtroom etiquette and report writing
Timeline
Senior Probation Officer – low risk
02.2026 - Current
Senior Probation Officer – FOCUS
06.2021 - 02.2026
Senior Probation Officer – Floater/Internship Coordinator
04.2018 - 06.2021
Senior Probation Officer – Detention Screening and Transport
10.2016 - 04.2018
Probation Officer – Mental Health specialty
12.2000 - 10.2016
Probation Officer – Juvenile Investigations
06.1999 - 12.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology - Emphasis Criminology
Northern Illinois University