Parole Officer I

at  The State of Kansas

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Substitution
Licensing & Certification: Valid driver’s license. Certified as a Parole Officer by the Secretary of Corrections and in Level of Services Inventory-Revised (LSIR) within one-year of hire.
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree with major coursework (i.e., 24 credit hours) in criminal justice, social sciences, or behavioral sciences. Substitution: Completion of 60 semester hours of coursework from an accredited college or university, including 12 hours in corrections, criminal justice, the social sciences, or the behavioral sciences, and two years of experience in the field of corrections or social services/case management.
Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of the principles, methods and procedures to facilitate an acceptable reintegration and/or continued adjustment of criminal offenders within their environment; Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships; organize and analyze information; maintain personal contact with offenders in the community; be aware of and look for signs of danger and respond appropriately; and ability to operate a personal and/or state vehicle.
Advance education, one year case management experience working with adults or juveniles, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements: Must pass a background check and drug screen upon hire.

POSITION SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

Position Summary: This position provides direction and counsel to an assigned caseload of adult offenders released on parole to assist in their understanding and meeting of the requirements of parole. Work includes assisting offenders with personal, social, financial, family, employment or psychological problems as they reintegrate into the community. This position works to establish, coordinate and participate in community projects designed to enhance the rehabilitation and reintegration processes by working with various community service agencies and law enforcement authorities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

Work with offenders to develop and maintain case plans designed to address public safety issues, reduce criminogenic risks/needs and enhance pro social behavior. Provide supervision services that include counseling regarding employment, housing, availability of community resources and other personal and social factors. Utilize risk reduction techniques such as motivational interviewing and cognitive strategies.
Maintain personal contact with offenders commensurate with the assigned level of supervision to assist offenders with reintegration into the community. Make regular and special home visits. Obtain urine samples when appropriate.
Maintains both written and electronic offender files with timely and accurate documentation in Athena and OMIS. Conduct LS/CMI and WRNA classification interviews and enter accurate documentation and scoring information. Use other assessment tools and available information to determine supervision level or management overrides.
Investigate incidents of misconduct, condition violations and violations of law and submit detailed written reports in accordance with Internal Management Policy and Procedures. Consider all facts and information to determine the appropriate response. Make appropriate recommendations to the Kansas Parole Board concerning parole revocations and discharges. Complete accurate and timely good time awards on the appropriate cases.
Coordinate utilization of community resources/services in the areas of employment, substance abuse, mental health, family counseling, education, faith based or civic organizations. Locate and/or develop resources for offenders to enhance case management efforts.
Perform pre-parole investigations to determine the suitability of inmates’ proposed parole plans to include the acceptability of living conditions, desirability of environment, employment plan and law enforcement opinions regarding the prospective parolee and sponsor, if appropriate, etc. Visit correctional institutions periodically to establish contact with prospective parolees assigned to caseload. Such contact may be established by letter or telephone. Participate in facility/parole interaction teams as assigned.
Act as after-hours duty officer. Attend training and meetings as required. Represent the Department of Corrections in community education and public relations. Perform other duties as assigned.