CORRECTIONAL POLICE SERGEANT, YOUTH JUSTICE COMMISSION

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the general direction of a Correctional Police Lieutenant or other supervisory official in the Youth Justice Commission, assists superiors in the supervision and delivery of custody work programs and with the responsibility for overseeing juvenile offenders assigned to various institutions and facilities throughout the State; functions as a Training Officer and/or first level supervisor over correctional police officers of lesser grade; does other administrative and custody related duties as required.

Examples of work

Exercises full police powers and acts as a peace officer at all times for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law. Supervises the work involved in the performance of assigned custody programs and related activities in accordance with established laws, rules, regulations, policies, directives, practices, and procedures governing juvenile correctional institutions, facilities, boot camps, and satellite locations. Interacts with various medical, professional, and support services personnel in providing and maintaining rehabilitation and educational programs for juvenile offenders. Conducts and leads military style training and regimented activities associated with close order drill, physical fitness conditioning, and training requirements for juvenile offenders. Reinforces program objectives with lesser grade correctional police officers, which were developed for the social and emotional habilitation initiative of juvenile offenders. Completes administrative and daily assignment worksheets for correctional police officers and records information into daily logs and notes unusual occurrences or events of the shift. During a tour of duty, relays orders and other communications to lesser grade correctional police officers and civilian staff. During a tour of duty, functions as lead officer in supervising work programs of the facility including behavior of juvenile offenders, lesser grade correctional police officers, civilian employees, and visitors. Supervises work responsibilities in the main control center and observes and oversees the movement of varying levels of correctional police officers, civilian employees, visitors, and escorted juvenile offenders as they enter and leave the institution, facility buildings, and grounds as appropriately authorized. Ensures all visitors have proper identification and appropriate reason for being on grounds; conducts searches and oversees surveillance activities to identify and prevent contraband and unauthorized articles from entering the facility's grounds, buildings, and living quarters. Ensures that reports are completed, recorded, and filed when a person is identified attempting to introduce contraband into an institution or facility as a visitor; contacts proper authorities when the arrest of a visitor is necessary, and completes required reports and denotes incident in reporting logs and daily work sheets. Utilizes and accesses the institution or facility computer information system to develop and monitor correctional police officers' scheduling by shift, available overtime listings, rosters, approved vacation days and scheduled sick hours/days, training schedules, and attendance records. Supervises the recording of incoming mail and packages and marking of received personal property and items for juvenile offenders' usage, which is authorized to be maintained at an institution or facility. Supervises and reviews the shift and daily counts of juvenile offenders and searches to be made for missing juveniles. Oversees the maintenance of order in assigned areas, buildings, and school classrooms on the grounds of the institution or facility, and other designated locations. Responds to reports of suspicious persons, dangerous or hazardous situations, or disturbances by juvenile offenders; takes appropriate action, and redeploys correctional police officers as necessary to ensure conditions are corrected and order is resumed. During a tour of duty, conducts regular periodic inspections of various areas, buildings, grounds, and living quarters of an institution or facility. Leads institution or facility search teams, ensures that lesser grade correctional police officers adhere to authorized search and surveillance procedures, and completes proper forms for the seizure of contraband as a result of conducted searches. Investigates charges of misconduct written by varying levels of correctional police officers on juvenile offenders' inappropriate actions or behavior. Interviews all witnesses that may have observed a reported incident or misconduct action, ensures all statements are recorded and verified by witnesses, and forwards all charges and required documentation after completion of the investigation to superiors for appropriate action. During the course of an investigation, completes prehearing detention forms, and if necessary, reassigns certain juvenile offenders that may be a threat to others residing in the living quarters or who are targeted by other juvenile offenders for acts of reprisal. Identifies and addresses gang related retaliation acts and threats of violence between rival gangs of juvenile offenders housed in separate units of an institution or facility. Oversees outdoor work detail and educational activities comprised of juvenile offenders to ensure good order and discipline in and around specific areas of the institution or facility are maintained. Prepares daily work schedules for assigned officers and renders various instructions. During officer roll call, addresses incidents from prior shifts or other important directives that officers should be made aware of in performing their assigned duties. Ensures that unusual occurrences and conditions are noted in the daily report sheets and recording logs. Oversees the issuance, storage, security, and collection of keys utilized by varying levels of correctional police officers and civilian employees of an institution or facility. Notifies medical staff of juvenile offenders who require immediate medical attention and completes required incident reports and documents for submission to proper authorities when a juvenile's behavior pattern indicates potential harm to himself/herself or others. Investigates varying types of complaints filed by juvenile offenders, varying levels of correctional police officers, support staff, and visitors, and prepares reports thereof with recommendations for appropriate review and action by superiors. Completes incident reports in cases of unauthorized absences or misconduct by officers or other assigned staff. Counsels and provides guidance to lesser grade correctional police officers where assistance may be required. Attends formal classes and receives instruction in the principles, practices, and terminology of correctional concepts involving juvenile penology methods and programs addressing supervision and counseling activities. Ensures juvenile offenders assigned to satellite units abide by rules, regulations, and procedures that govern such units. Supervises programs such as work release, boot camps, institution camps, school, and vocational training attendance participation, outside details, and other off grounds and community activities. Conducts training sessions within the institution and/or facility in the proper usage of security and safety equipment, which will be utilized in the performance of assigned duties performed by Senior Correctional Police Officers, Youth Justice Commission and Correctional Police Officers, Youth Justice Commission. May develop and oversee a firearms program to provide firearms qualification and semi-annual requalification standards for all officers in weapons usage and security in accordance with policy and regulations issued and enforced by the State Police Commission on Firearms Training. Performs military style inspections of juvenile offenders' clothing attire, living quarters, and hygiene practices on a regular daily basis. Plans, organizes, and assigns work requirements of the organizational unit and prepares filing reports on Senior Correctional Officers, Youth Justice Commission under said supervision and probationary reports for Correctional Police Officers, Youth Justice Commission, and performance assessment reviews. May oversee agency training, related safety, and firefighting activities. Performs various types of investigations and prepares detailed reports reflecting determined findings. Ensures juvenile offenders' rights are not violated, and reviews and monitors enforcement programs and procedures in compliance with commission directives. Composes memoranda and other communications, and statistical reports related to custody responsibilities and program activities. Acts as a witness for the State and testifies before formal hearings, Grand Juries, Courts of Law, administrative hearings, or other judicial bodies. Oversees the transport of juvenile offenders to and from other jurisdictions and facilities, as required. Leads correctional police officers in searches and apprehension of escaped juvenile offenders from custody. Utilizes and trains others in use of electronic communications, computer information systems, other types of recording equipment, devices, and manual recordings used by the agency, institutions, facilities, satellite locations, and other related units. Regularly instructs and reminds subordinate staff of policies, directives, procedures, standards, and practices, and any revisions to those policies. Schedules training requirements for probationary correctional police officers. Recognizes and rapidly evaluates potentially dangerous and hazardous situations involving juvenile offenders' and correctional police officers' safety and well-being; exercises caution and good judgment in identifying these circumstances quickly to avoid personal injury to all parties, prevent endangerment to the general public, and/or property damage. Interacts with juvenile offenders' parents and/or guardians, subordinates, superiors, and other assigned employees to develop and maintain desired team leadership initiatives of positive reinforced values, incentives, and sanctions to address each juvenile's assessment needs, treatment, and educational requirements the facility can offer for rehabilitation objectives and goal attainment. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Possession of a High School Diploma or its equivalent.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in the supervision, care, and custody of juvenile and/or adult offenders assigned to a correctional institution, facility, and/or boot camp.

License

Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of laws, rules, directives, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures relating to the operations of a correctional institution or facility housing juvenile offenders. Knowledge of the problems and circumstances likely to be encountered in a work environment involving the social rehabilitation, care, well-being, and custody of juvenile offenders detained and deprived of specific freedoms throughout a custodial supervision period of confinement. Knowledge of the care, usage, security, integrity, and training of others in proper usage of firearms safety and other restraints and defense equipment. Knowledge of the electronic communications equipment and database software utilized in the performance of assigned duties. Knowledge of surveillance methods and procedures. Knowledge of the administrative and law enforcement procedures for reporting violations to applicable laws, rules, regulations, and directives. Knowledge of the methods and techniques for performing investigations of recorded juvenile offenders' inappropriate actions and violations to stipulated programming directives, governing rules, regulations, and established standards. Knowledge of the methods and procedures governing the issuance of arrest warrants. Knowledge of the procedures for recording statements attained from witnesses during the course of an investigation. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of employee supervision and conducting evaluations. Knowledge of the principles and practices of conducting needs assessments. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of mediation. Knowledge of the methods used in developing proper work procedures and in rendering work assignments, instructions, and directions to lesser grade correctional police officers and civilian employees. Knowledge of authorized force techniques utilized in controlling disturbances, and when and how approved usage of chemical mace may be deployed. Knowledge of the directives and operating procedures governing usage of firearms and in identifying ascending force factors leading to that point of using deadly force. Knowledge of the procedures utilized in maintaining records and filing systems. Knowledge of the principles and practices in applying criminal justice applications and standards to juvenile offenders housed in correctional institutions and facilities. Knowledge of the procedures governing rules of evidence. Knowledge of due process in the application of law enforcement powers, and court proceedings and procedures in testifying at trials. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement project within the unit. Ability to exercise full police powers and act as a peace officer at all times for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law. Ability to perform and train others in the assertiveness techniques and methods utilized in a confined work environment with persons of varying ethnic and language backgrounds, education, abilities, and personalities. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with juvenile offenders, their family members, coworkers, subordinates, and superiors. Ability to instruct others and utilize positive reinforcement methods to gain confidence and respect of juvenile offenders, and to assist and provide direction with their personal development and emotional stability during their period of incarceration. Ability to communicate with juvenile offenders to foster self-assurance attitudes and personal esteem for themselves and toward others. Ability to recognize and utilize varying levels of supervision methods and coaching techniques with lesser grade correctional police officers. Ability to lead military style training and regimented activities. Ability to lead and conduct rigorous physical fitness training activities, calisthenics, exercises, and close order drill activities. Ability to supervise and perform military style inspections of living areas and quarters, proper clothing/uniform attire, appropriate self-hygiene habits, safety issues, and liabilities of juvenile offenders. Ability to instruct others in applying the principles and practices of commission directives as they apply to custody related juvenile delinquency problems and issues. Ability to recognize suspicious persons and/or events or circumstances. Ability to initiate decisive action and disseminate clear orders for others to follow. Ability to properly utilize firefighting equipment and adhere to stipulated emergency procedures. Ability to provide and preside over specific modular intensive training programs and methods developed exclusively for agency requirements. Ability to problem solve daily work-related situations learned from experience, training classes and workshop demonstrations gleaned useful for custody supervision work, and programming initiatives in an institution or facility housing juvenile offenders. Ability to prepare and provide detailed reports of any issues, problems, or conditions warranting specific action and the action taken. Ability to perform repetitive work assignments without loss of equanimity, patience, and courtesy, and to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations. Ability to successfully complete special firearms instructor courses and training requirements as authorized by the NJ Police Training Commission. Ability to utilize and instruct others in the proper usage of electronic communications, computer information systems, other types of recording equipment, devices, and manual recordings used by the agency, institutions, facilities, satellite locations, and other related units. Ability to evaluate reliability and credibility of witnesses' oral or written statements. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence, reports, memoranda, and communications on custody issues and problem and other program needs. Ability to identify and recognize where juvenile offenders may hide after successful escapes from custody. Ability to recognize and identify potentially dangerous and hazardous situations involving juvenile offenders, and to evaluate all available options in handling these circumstances. Ability to gather, collect, maintain, collate, interpret, and disseminate statistical information. Ability to make decisions and determine when circumstances should be referred to superiors for appropriate action. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority. AGE: Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age. CITIZENSHIP: Must be a United States' citizen at the time of appointment. At time of appointment, eligible candidates for this position must submit acceptable proof of meeting the above indicated requirements. Appointees must have successfully completed the NJ Police Training Commission and agency training course standards for custody, supervision, investigations, and related law enforcement requirements. Appointees shall be required to qualify in the use of firearms on a semi-annual basis. Selected eligible candidates shall meet the qualifications for juvenile correctional police officers and shall be employed as juvenile correctional police officers pursuant to Section 6 of P.L. 1995, c. 28 (N.J.S.A. 52:17B-174).