Parole Officer 1

JobAps; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Connecticut Department of Correction seeks a Parole Officer I to supervise and support offenders released into the community. This full-time, second-shift role focuses on risk assessment, case management, and collaboration with community partners in multiple CT cities including Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Waterbury.

You will work within the Parole and Community Services Division to coordinate supervision plans, conduct investigations, and document progress while

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience in case management or community supervision.
• Substitutions allowed: relevant degrees may substitute for general experience.
• Required background checks and thorough background investigation.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned caseload of offenders and monitor progress.
• Coordinate release proceedings and ensure eligibility checks.
• Develop and implement supervision and rehabilitation plans.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, community programs, and service providers.
• Maintain and update offender records and generate reports.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC)�is seeking dedicated professionals to join the Parole and Community Services Division as a Parole�Officer 1.�We currently have vacancies for Parole Officers for individuals with case�management and/or community supervision experience.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information;
• Professional growth and development opportunities;
• A healthy work/life balance for all employees!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

This position is full-time, following a second shift schedule, 40 hours a week, scheduled Monday - Friday and�will be on call positions with location of hire being determined based on agency need, in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Waterbury.

DOC's Parole & Community Services Division (P&CS) supervises and provides support services to offenders released to the community under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Correction and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The Division is comprised of district offices located in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, and Waterbury.

This also includes the following specialized units: Residential Services, Central Intake, Special Management, Mental Health, Fugitive Investigations, Women’s Re-Entry, Support Services, and Training and Staff Development Unit.

P&CS continually strives to enhance public safety by providing offenders opportunities to successfully reintegrate into the community and be productive members of society.

NOTE: Incumbents in this class will gain knowledge of the total parole process necessary to perform successfully at the Parole Officer 2 level. Although the job functions may be similar in both the Parole Officer 1 and Parole Officer 2 classifications, an incumbent will not move to the Parole Officer 2 classification until he/she has demonstrated solid job content knowledge and the ability to perform the full range of tasks required at the Parole Officer 2 level, as determined through performance reviews. Incumbents must serve a minimum of one (1) year at the level of Parole Officer 1 prior to reclassification.

ABOUT US

The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.

The DOC shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law‑abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services and the Board of Pardons and Paroles this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in case management, inmate classification systems, counseling, investigation and enforcement activities for an assigned group of offenders.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

PAROLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Performs tasks associated with community supervision, guidance and control of an assigned caseload of offenders;
• Conducts preliminary investigations and assists in coordinating and authorizing release of offenders;
• Reviews offender case files; conducts needs assessment and develops a plan for supervision;
• Coordinates development of a rehabilitation program for offenders;
• Makes appropriate referrals to community based programs for necessary treatment and evaluation and monitors offender progress while in treatment;
• Monitors offender progress through contacts with work supervisors, family members, law enforcement agencies, community based programs and educational institutions and recommends changes in program;
• Investigates violations of parole agreements or other performance difficulties;
• Processes violations;
• Performs difficult or hazardous investigations, makes arrests and transports offenders to correctional facilities;
• Utilizes computerized records system to maintain offenders complex case notes and comprehensive offender file;
• Prepares various reports;
• Coordinates and/or participates in remand to custody as necessary;
• Acts as liaison with facility staff, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, law enforcement agencies and the community to ensure continuity of services for offenders;
• Performs related duties as required.

BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES

• Performs tasks associated with the review and preparation of case materials for hearings which are reviewed by the Board of Pardons and Paroles;
• Accesses databases and files from various law enforcement agencies and retrieves data relevant to police reports, pre‑sentencing information, participation in rehabilitative programs, disciplinary reports and institutional adjustment;
• Verifies parole eligibility and discharge dates;
• Meets with inmates to discuss parole process;
• Coordinates attendance of victims and inmates families at Board of Pardons and Paroles hearings;
• Attends hearings, takes notes and provides information to Board members regarding case files as requested;
• Utilizes computerized records system to maintain offenders complex case notes and comprehensive offender file;
• Prepares various repots;
• Responds to inquiries from offenders, victims, family members or the public;
• Coordinates and/or participates in remands to custody as necessary including out of state remands;
• Acts as liaison with facility staff, Parole and Community Services, law enforcement agencies and the community to ensure continuity of services for offenders;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of

• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• criminal behavior;
• individual and group behavior;
• principles and techniques of interviewing;
• evidence-based practices;
• cultural competencies and ethical standards;
• counseling techniques;
• investigatory techniques; some knowledge of correctional practices;
• community resources;

Skills

• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;

Ability to

• prepare clear and concise reports and case histories;
• learn and retain information;
• analyze facts and make decisions;
• perform arithmetical computations;
• organize time, set priorities and manage caseload tasks;
• utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience in case management or community supervision activities in parole, probation, rehabilitation counseling or social work in a correctional or community setting under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction or the Criminal Justice System.

NOTE: Case management is interpreted as having an assigned caseload, performing the initial intake assessments, setting up treatment plans and monitoring client progress.

Community supervision is interpreted as those community settings which provide services to offenders in settings such as Alternative Incarceration Centers. It does not refer to the general population.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in counseling, criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology, social work or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

A Master's degree in counseling, criminal justice, human services, psychology, sociology, social work or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Two (2) years as a Parole Officer Trainee may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience identifying and developing community resources that support individuals under supervision, including housing, employment, behavioral health treatment, and substance use services, and collaborating with community agencies to connect individuals with those services;
• Experience managing a high‑volume workload, prioritizing competing responsibilities, meeting deadlines and maintaining accurate documentation;
• Experience conducting investigations, interviewing involved parties, evaluating information from multiple sources, and preparing clear, accurate and objective written reports;
• Experience and training in the use of de‑escalation and/or crisis management techniques;
• Experience developing and coordinating case management plans / offender accountability plans;
• Experience conducting risk‑based assessments; and
• Experience using graduated sanctions as well as evidence‑based intervention techniques.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle operator license.
• Incumbents in this class must be able to obtain and maintain certification to carry and use weapons including firearms and chemical agents.
• Incumbents in this class must be able to obtain and maintain NCIC/COLLECT certification.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to successfully complete a formal training course in correctional work to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the class.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for appointment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must have general good health, be free from any disease or injury, which would impair health or usefulness and possess and retain sufficient physical strength, stamina, agility, endurance and visual and auditory acuity required to perform the duties of the class.

A comprehensive medical examination, including a controlled substance screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to a considerable degree of danger of injury or assault by offenders or persons engaged in deviant behavior and from automobile or other accidents, communicable infectious diseases, disagreeable environmental conditions, confinement in a dangerous and volatile prison population and may be required to exert considerable physical effort such as working in tiring positions, lifting and restraining of offenders.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all‑inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.