Job Information

LOCATION OF (3) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, MARK LUTTRELL TRANSITION CENTER , SHELBY COUNTY

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in criminal justice, counseling, psychology, sociology, paralegal studies, or other related acceptable field.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Experience in corrections, probation/parole, social services, law enforcement, private security, investigative, or other closely related work experience may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis to a maximum of two years.

Other Requirements

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons;
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
• Have no conviction for a felony or any domestic assault convictions or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces;
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs;
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment;
• Upon appointment, successfully complete all additional prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy and any and all on-line training.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Job Overview

Summary: Under general direction, is responsible for professional probation and parole surveillance work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class performs surveillance, monitoring, and supervision of offenders transitioning into the community. Work involves developing transitional accountability and offender responsibility plans; monitoring and investigating offenders' activities in home, work, school, or other settings in the community; interacting with offenders, family members, correctional staff, law enforcement, community members, and others to promote fluid supervision of offenders, increase public safety, and reduce recidivism; and other related tasks as assigned.

Work Activities

Performing General Physical Activities:

• Uses baton, pepper spray, handcuffs, and/or physical force as needed in the event of a critical incident.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

• Responds to offender GPS alerts by processing notifications according to protocol (e.g., contacts offenders by telephone, mobilizes response team, or other appropriate response action).
• Monitors offenders' activities by visiting the home, work, school, or other settings in the community and by utilizing collateral contacts and other monitoring techniques to ensure public safety and compliance with standards and rules of supervision set forth by policy/procedure.
• Administers drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens, to check for compliance with rules of supervision.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Recommends remedial action in response to noncompliant behavior.
• Reviews/analyzes compiled offender information in order to determine appropriate steps for rehabilitation.

Thinking Creatively:

• Develops offender responsibility plan (ORP) to set offender goals (e.g., maintain employment, stay in school, maintained sobriety, or other set goals) and establish appropriate sanctions for offender non-compliance.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Acts as liaison between institutional staff, community supervision, law enforcement, and other agencies to promote fluid supervision of offenders, increase public safety, and reduce recidivism.
• Interacts in a positive manner with offenders and their family members, community members, and others to foster/maintain harmonious relationships and to assist offenders with re-entry into the community.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

• Assesses offender recidivism risk based on criminal history, substance abuse issues, employment, transportation, available housing support, and/or other pertinent information.
• Assesses the availability of service providers to deliver appropriate services to offenders.

Getting Information:

• Compiles all preliminary information relevant to offender's background, supervision history, and compliance with rules/standards in response to credible allegations of non-compliance.
• Interviews individuals who may have information pertinent to an investigation of credible allegations of offender non-compliance.
• Interviews offenders, employers, and others in the field as part of pre-release investigations and as necessary to evaluate offenders' compliance with rules of supervision and rehabilitation plans.
• Gathers information prior to offenders' release into the community (e.g., visits place of residence and/or work site, travels bus route to work site) to identify any potential deterrents for offender or potential risks to public safety.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Reads/reviews state and agency policies and procedures (e.g., Acceptable-Use Policy for computers, Workplace Harassment, and other work-related policies) to ensure adherence/compliance in the performance of job duties.
• Attends and participates in all required in-service and pre-service training to acquire new knowledge and/or skills relevant to job responsibilities.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

• Develops a transitional accountability plan informing offenders of the requirements of conditional release, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

• Talks with offenders to encourage good decision-making, pro-social behaviors, and independent living (e.g., encourages residents to participate in GED and/or job skills classes, assists with budget preparation, discourages extravagant purchases).
• Coordinates clinical assessments for offenders and arranges for medical, mental health, substance abuse treatment services, and/or other accessible programs/services according to individual needs.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Writes reports describing offenders' progress including identifying offenders' status and updating personal and employer information.
• Prepares and maintains contact notes on offenders within case file folder, as well as in required data bases and records in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Maintains appropriate documentation of interactions with community partners, institutional staff, employers, or any other persons having contact with the offender.
• Documents and records personal working time and travel.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

• Coordinates offender activities such as public service work, orientation, classes, in-take processing, and drug screens.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

• Clearly defines/explains offender responsibility plan and requirements of conditional release (e.g., office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations) to ensure the offender understands what is expected.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Exchanges offender-related information with law enforcement officers, district attorneys, other state agencies, and other states.
• Represents the department in a variety of formal and informal contacts.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:

• Identifies and verifies offenders' location and movement between local, state, federal facilities, and/ or supervising field offices.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Communicates with staff, supervisors, and other agencies concerning events, activities, and policies related to offenders to promote effective completion of work tasks.
• Communicates effectively in written form, by email, by phone, prison radio system, or in person to relay or exchange information.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

• Inspects personal safety equipment (e.g., vest, baton, handcuffs, pepper spray) to ensure proper condition and functioning.
• Inspects office and specialty equipment, such as a GPS and supplies, to ensure adequate supply of functional equipment.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

• Handles offender complaints and grievances in accordance with policies and procedures to facilitate a resolution or other appropriate action.

Interacting With Computers:

• Uses computer systems and productivity tools/applications in accordance with the State Acceptable Use Policy to complete required work (e.g., email communications, maintenance of offenders' files, or other work tasks).

Coaching and Developing Others:

• Mentors and coaches other staff to assist them in acquiring job-specific knowledge and developing and enhancing their skill level.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

• Makes improvement suggestions to management based on research, analysis, and/or first-hand observations of trends, problems, or other information gathered relevant to agency operations and services.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

• Uses state vehicle or personal vehicle to perform work-related travel.

Competencies (KSA'S)

Competencies:

• Integrity and trust
• Ethics and values
• Decision quality
• Action oriented
• Managing diversity
• Informing
• Composure
• Customer focused
• Planning
• Patience

Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state and prison security operations for the protection of people, data, and property
• Intermediate knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as office productivity software, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology
• Basic knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; and learning and motivation
• Basic knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, ethnicity, and cultures

Skills:

• Intermediate skill understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents
• Intermediate skill in creating clear, convincing and organized written information
• Basic skill in establishing effective relationships with team members and participating in problem solving and decision-making as a team
• Intermediate skill in talking to others to convey information effectively
• Basic skill in performing routine inspections on security related equipment (e.g., handcuffs, baton, protective vests, pepper spray) to ensure they are functioning properly
• Intermediate skill in managing one's own time to complete assigned work tasks effectively and timely
• Intermediate skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Intermediate skill in adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
• Intermediate skill in persuading others to change their minds or behavior
• Basic skill in actively looking for ways to empower offenders to obtain needed tools and services for reintegration into the community
• Intermediate skill in modifying one's own behavior and work activities in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles
• Intermediate skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• Basic skill in grasping the essence of new information, mastering new technical and business knowledge, recognizing own strengths and weaknesses, and pursuing self-development
• Basic skill in monitoring/assessing behaviors of other individuals to make improvements or take corrective action

Abilities:

• Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to coordinate the movement of arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion
• Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• Intermediate ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
• Ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead
• Ability to speak clearly so others can understand
• Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person
• Intermediate ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
• Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet)
• Ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated
• Basic ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures
• Basic ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong (does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem)
• Basic ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense

Tools and Equipment Used

• Computer, printers, copiers, and other office equipment

• GPS monitoring equipment

• Two-way radio, cell phone, and other communication equipment

• Handcuffs, pepper spray, protective vest, baton, and other security-related equipment

• Drug and alcohol testing equipment