Classification Specialist

Osceola County; Kissimmee (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Night Shift Differential Pay

Job summary

Osceola County Corrections is seeking a Classification Officer to evaluate inmates and determine housing placement, assisting inmates with adjustment and access to programs. The role involves direct counseling, recordkeeping, and collaboration with security staff to ensure compliant classifications.

The ideal candidate has an Associate’s degree in a related field and at least 1 year of related experience, plus a valid Florida driver’s license. Night shift differential pay is available.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related field.
• One (1) year of experience in criminal justice, corrections, and/or social work.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.
• Ability to work independently in an office and correctional environment; prioritize work and exercise sound judgment.
• Knowledge of inmate classification and housing placement principles and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Classifies inmates according to applicable rules, guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitors inmate custody, housing, and program placements to ensure proper classification.
• Coordinates with Security Staff daily to advise the Classification Supervisor of issues.
• Responds to inmate requests and grievances regarding housing and placement rules.
• Screens and assigns inmates as trustee workers per policy and procedures.
• Handles inmate communications and directs inquiries to the appropriate staff.
• Provides counseling and guidance to inmates to aid adjustment and program participation.
• Performs specialized administrative tasks: data analysis, typing, reports processing, verification.
• Conducts counseling interviews and addresses inmate interests and concerns.
• Assists in developing community re-entry plans and connects to resources.
• Calculates sentences and applies gain time to determine projected release dates.
• Serves as liaison to other departments for housing/placement information.
• Attends meetings on classification trends and regulatory changes.
• Maintains legal records and logs and trains new employees as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Classification knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Record keeping

Judgment and decision making

Education

Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice or related field

Job description

Please Note: This position is eligible for Night Shift Differential Pay

NOTE TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS: INTERNAL CANDIDATES IN THE SAME CLASSIFICATION AND/OR PAYGRADE AS THE POSITION POSTED WILL NOT RECEIVE A PAY ADJUSTMENT IF SELECTED.

Under direction, the purpose of the position is to conduct critical classifications of each inmate housed in the facility more than 48 hours to determine appropriate housing placement. This position also assists inmates in adjusting to institutional life, and to select appropriate self‑help, therapeutic, educational and/or vocational programs. Employees in this classification perform at journey professional level to process inmate movement throughout the facility and to provide assistance and counseling to inmates. Work includes the evaluation and classification of special management, violent or at‑risk inmates.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

• Classifies inmates according to all applicable rules, guidelines, and regulatory requirements of jail classification in the Osceola County Corrections Facility.
• Monitors inmate custody, housing, and program placements to ensure all inmates are appropriately classified; reclassifies inmates appropriately.
• Coordinates with the Security Staff daily to advise the Classification Supervisor of problems or potentially problematic situations with inmate housing and placement.
• Receives, researches, and replies to inmate requests and grievances directed to Classification regarding housing and placement rules and regulations.
• Screens, determines eligibility, and assigns inmates as trustee workers according to departmental policy and procedures.
• Receives telephone inquiries and concerns, ascertaining the nature of the call, and resolving personally, directing it to the appropriate individual or department, or acting as liaison to the appropriate Corrections staff.
• Provides assistance and counseling to inmates; counsels inmates to assist them in adjusting to jail life and to address personal and family problems;
• Performs a variety of specialized administrative support functions, e.g., analyzing data, typing, reports processing, documentation verification.
• Conducts counseling interviews with assigned cases in accordance with approved counseling techniques; receives and addresses inmate interests, activities, and concerns; provides constructive methods for addressing individual problems.
• Determines inmate eligibility for programs and if such programs would be beneficial to the inmate’s overall adjustment; coordinates and facilitates education and work schedules for individual inmate programs to prevent conflicts between programs; assists inmates in developing a community re‑entry plan and in accessing community resources.
• Assists inmates to obtain legal documentation from the approved research liaison.
• Calculates all jail sentences greater than five days, to include the application of gain time in order to determine projected release dates.
• Serves as a liaison to other facility departments for the dissemination of information and feedback on inmate’s placement.
• Attends and actively participates in meetings related to classification issues to keep up with trends and legislative changes and safety.
• Performs a variety of critical record keeping duties; maintains department record keeping and filing systems relevant materials appropriate to assigned unit.
• Generates and maintains a variety of critical legal records and reports (i.e., statistical data, inmate demographics, placement records and applicable logs – housing, custody, etc.).
• Maintains a variety of detailed legal records and reports; collects and prepares various information; prepares legal documentation as required, i.e., number of inmates served, case narratives, placement records.
• Performs a variety of records maintenance tasks of incoming and outgoing inmates; file checks; daily calendars for next day releases; inmate movement/transfer lists; commitments for inmates being transferred to DOC
• Provides training and completes Daily Observation Reports for new employees as needed or assigned.
• Performs duties as assigned/necessary, which are related, or logical in assignment to the position.

Education: Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related field.

Experience: One (1) year of experience in criminal justice, corrections, and/or social work. An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience may be considered.

Miscellaneous: Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.

• Considerable knowledge of adult inmate classification and housing placement principles, practices, procedures, and systems; knowledge of correction facility operations and systems.
• Considerable knowledge of adult inmate case management and rehabilitation principles, practices, procedures, and systems; knowledge of court and probations systems.
• Considerable knowledge of pertinent federal, state and local rules, regulations, ordinances, and other regulatory standards applicable to the classification of inmates including court and case management procedures and terminology.
• Functional knowledge of correctional facility operations.
• Considerable knowledge of available community resources and social service resources for application to functional area of responsibility.
• Skill in reading, analyzing, and interpreting professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures, and legal documentation.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse.
• Ability to work independently in an office and correctional environment; ability to prioritize work, organize and make sound judgments in inmate supervision; skill in analyzing and developing effective solutions; ability to investigate complaints.
• Skill in professionally and effectively communicating verbally, in writing, and in presentations.
• Skill in interpersonal and leadership communications; ability to deal tactfully and cordially with a variety of individuals from different economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and communications with inmates, social service agencies, co‑workers, department management, security members of the judiciary and the general public.

Physical Demand Requirements

• Physical Demand: Light
• 20 pounds maximum lifting.
• Frequent (up to 2/3 of the work time) lifting, carrying up to 10 lbs.
• If less lifting involved will require significant walking/standing.
• If mostly sitting is involved will require push/pull on arm or leg controls.
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken word or perceiving sound by ear.
• Good eyesight for production or safety of self and others.
• Walk, run, stop, bend, and climb stairs.
• Must be able to walk, sit, or stand for extended periods of time.
• Capable of working under stressful conditions.