PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICER 2* - 10221024-62464

at  Correction

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree and experience equivalent to one year of full-time professional level experience in one or more of the following: probation/parole, counseling, social work, investigative, or legal experience.
Substitution of Graduate Course Work for Experience: Graduate course credit received from an accredited college or university in social science, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, social work and/or law may be substitute for the required experience to a maximum of one year (e.g., an additional 36 graduate quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience).
Substitution of Experience for Education: Full-time related professional experience may be substituted for the bachelor¿s degree on a year-for-year basis. This includes law enforcement experience.

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.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Administration and Management
• Clerical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government
• Psychology
• Public Safety and Security

SKILLS:

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Writing
• Persuasion
• Service Orientation
• Complex Problem Solving
• Time Management

ABILITIES:

• Deductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Time Sharing
• Written Comprehension
• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity

Tools & Equipment

• Personal Computer
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Printer
• Copy Machine
• Motor Vehicles
• Cameras
• Two-Way Radios

Other Law Enforcement related equipment as require

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Attends and participates in all required in service and pre service training related to applying new knowledge to their job responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

Processing Information:

• Prepares and maintains offenders’ records and reports; identifies criminal activities and background information in reports or standard forms which answer special requests by the parole board; prepares narrative reports of the investigation process; total caseload activities when preparing monthly reports.

Getting Information:

• Conducts searches of offender residences, vehicles, and person as required by policy.
• Interviews probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contacts and rehabilitation plans.
• Conducts pre-hearing and pre-release investigations and testifies in court regarding their offenders¿ backgrounds and recommended sentences and sentencing conditions as required by policy.
• Searches on state, local, and federal databases for incidents and additional information related to their offenders.
• Monitors and reviews e-mails related to their offenders.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Interacts with each offender in a positive and respectful manner always dealing with hostile attitudes and the offender in a controlled and calming manner.
• Acts as liaison with judges, court personnel, law enforcement and other agencies concerned with the probation/parole program and who may have an effect upon the success of agency goals.
• Interacts in a positive manner with other staff members and other fellow employees to foster and maintain a harmonious working environment.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Requests arrest warrants for non compliance by the offenders as required by policy and procedures.
• Utilizes compiled offender information in order to determine proper steps for treatment.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

• Handles offender complaints and grievances quickly and professionally as required by policy and procedures.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

• Investigates significant offender and staff related events to determine if incident reports are required by policy and procedures.
• Assists offenders in decision making processes.
• Uses Level Service Case Management Inventory (LSCMI) to determine the offenders’ risk level and frequency of needed services.
• Assists in determining the value of court ordered offender restitution.
• Assesses the availability of service providers to deliver appropriate services to offenders.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

• Develops appropriate sanctions for offender non compliance with their conditions of release.
• Develops a transitional accountability plan informing offenders of the requirements of conditional release, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Monitors the offenders under their supervision to ensure compliance with release requirements set for the offenders by policy and procedures.
• Utilizes compliance reports on a monthly basis to determine the officers’ work is in compliance with standards required by policy and procedures.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

• Supervises people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
• Recommends remedial action or initiates court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole as required for enforcing and following up on court orders and / or board conditions for release.
• Receives and responds to GPS alerts regarding offenders and processes notifications.
• Administers drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens of offenders, to verify compliance with substance abuse treatment programs.
• Prepares and follows up with risk assessments from LSCMI or any designated assessment tools.
• Attends and monitors court hearings of offenders.
• Receives and responds to correspondence from other states related to offenders¿ supervision.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Effectively communicates with other staff, supervisors, and other agencies concerning events, activities, and policies related to offenders to promote effective completion of work tasks.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

• Responds appropriately when personal assistance is needed.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Mentors and/or assists in training of new staff.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Represents the organization in a variety of formal and informal contacts.
• Exchanges information with law enforcement officers, district attorneys, other state agencies, and other states related to offenders.
• Effectively communicates with the public concerning events, activities, and policies related to offenders.
• Exchanges information with representatives with outside organizations and community agencies about programs that can help the offender adjust to the community.

Analyzing Data or Information:

• Analyzes reports for needed action related to the offenders under their supervision.

Coaching and Developing Others:

• Discusses with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

• Discusses the risk and needs assessments with offenders.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public:

• Performs duties and functions in a professional manner toward the public as a representative of the agency.

Interacting With Computers:

• Uses a Computer to maintain offenders’ files and other required work.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Prepares and maintains contact notes on offenders within the case file folder and in required data bases and records.
• Documents and records personal working time and travel.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information:

• Plans personal work schedules to accommodate activities for monitoring offenders.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

• Schedules offender activities such as public service work, orientation, court, classes, in-take processing, drug screens, and home visits.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Prioritizes and schedules daily, weekly, and monthly personal work activities.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:

• Coordinates clinical assessments for offenders and arranges for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
• Writes reports describing offenders¿ progress. Identifying offenders¿ status and updating personal and employer information.
• Identifies and verifies offenders¿ location and movement between local, state, federal facilities, and/ or supervising field offices.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

• Inspects personal safety equipment including vest, baton, pepper spray to ensure proper condition and functioning.
• Inspects office and specialty equipment, such as a GPS, and supplies to ensure adequate supplies of functional equipment are available as needed for their job functions.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Attends and participates in all required in service and pre service training related to applying new knowledge to their job responsibilities.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

• Uses personal car or state vehicle to perform home visits or other work related travel.