CORRECTIONS OMBUDSPERSON
Corrections Ombudsperson is an unclassified role, so it is appointed at the discretion of the hiring authority and does not carry the usual exam-and-tenure track.
Qualifying takes a bachelor's degree and 6 years of relevant experience. State payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Public Advocate.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
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See where to apply for this title →Why this title is unclassified
This specification cites N.J.S.A. 11A:3-4(L), state unclassified service.
(l) All other titles as provided by law or as the Civil Service Commission may determine.
A title in the State unclassified service sits outside Title 11A unless a provision says otherwise. In practice that means no competitive examination to get the job, and none of the career service protections that come with it: no permanent status after a working test period, and no right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission from a removal. Appointment and removal rest with the appointing authority.
The rule that allocates a title to this service is N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.3.
Who employs this title
Corrections Ombudsperson appears on the State payroll at one department, Public Advocate.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Public Advocate | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $172,500. The agencies employing the most are:
- Public Advocate (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
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 direction of the Governor or designee, will function as the head of the Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson (OCO) to enforce the rights of people who are incarcerated, provide access to the benefits to which they are entitled, and ensure accountability, transparency, monitoring, and continued improvements within all [of New Jersey's] correctional facilities (N.J.S.A. 30:1B-6.6c.); shall establish and implement procedures for eliciting, receiving, processing, responding, and resolving complaints from people who are incarcerated, their families, other interested citizens, public officials, and government agencies concerning conditions in the correctional facilities; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Establish priorities for the OCO in line with available resources.
- Provide protection for the rights of people who are incarcerated and establish procedures to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints regarding issues that adversely affect the health, safety, welfare and rights of individuals who are incarcerated.
- Forestall problems for people who are incarcerated by facilitating early recognition of complaints and problems and providing an avenue for prompt redress.
- Provide information to people who are incarcerated, family members, representatives, DOC employees, and others regarding the rights of people who are in prison.
- Maintain toll-free telephone numbers, a website, and a mailing address for receipt of complaints and/or inquiries, and logs and responds to inquiries in a timely and helpful manner.
- In collaboration with the OCO Advisory Board, establishes procedures to gather stakeholder input for OCO activities and priorities, and to promote public awareness of the OCO and the correctional system.
- Provide technical assistance to support the capacity of people who are incarcerated to participate in self-advocacy.
- Monitor compliance with applicable federal, State, county, and municipal laws, rules, regulations, and policies related to the health, safety, welfare, and rehabilitation of people who are incarcerated.
- Conduct inspections of all DOC facilities on a regular basis and interview people who are incarcerated regarding grievances or complaints.
- Monitor and participate in legislative and policy developments affecting correction facilities and educate OCO and DOC staff and people who are incarcerated on state and federal developments.
- Establish a Statewide uniform reporting system to collect and analyze data related to complaints received by the Ombudsperson regarding the department.
- Establish procedures to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints.
- Regularly prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports and correspondence containing findings, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations for the Department of Corrections, the Governor's Office, the Legislature, and the public.
- Lead a team of Assistant Corrections Ombudspeople and other OCO employees to carry out the mission of the OCO, including determining work assignments, completing employee evaluations, and recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, a nd/or disciplining of employees.
- 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
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
Experience
Six (6) years of experience working with or advocating for people who are incarcerated, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. <i>OR</i> Six (6) years of experience conducting investigations or leading litigation of prison conditions or abuses involving varied and often complex documentation, including custodial documents, disciplinary records, and medical and mental health records; two (2) years of which would be working directly with individuals who are incarcerated; three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. <i>OR</i> Six (6) years of criminal justice policy and advocacy experience including working on legislative or administrative reform; three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. <i>OR</i> Six (6) years of experience in a combination of the policy, advocacy, investigative, or legal roles outlined above.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of applicable federal, State, county, and municipal laws, rules, regulations, and policies related to the health, safety, welfare, and rehabilitation of people who are incarcerated.
- Knowledge of policy, practice, and culture common in correctional settings.
- Knowledge of caseload management and prioritization of work.
- Knowledge and understanding of the impact of incarceration on the individual, family, and community.
- Knowledge and understanding of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
- Ability to be neutral and impartial and not act as an advocate for the complainant or the DOC.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and issues concurrently.
- Ability to review, interpret and analyze state and federal laws.
- Ability to understand issues related to diverse corrections populations including race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, and LGBTQ+ incarcerated individuals.
- Ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and with integrity.
- Ability to manage assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the office.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and computer information systems and software applications used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the 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 New Jersey Legislature created the Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson (OCO) in 2005 and mandated it to resolve complaints concerning the conditions of confinement for people sentenced to State custody. Much has changed since 2005, and in 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill strengthening the OCO and charging it 'to enforce the rights of inmates, provide access to the benefits to which they are entitled, and ensure accountability, transparency, monitoring, and continued improvements within all [of New Jersey's] correctional facilities.' N.J.S.A. 30:1B-6.6c. The responsibilities of the OCO are laid out P.L. 2019, c. 288. OCO provides information to people who are incarcerated and to their families; promotes public awareness and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of individuals who are incarcerated; identifies systemic issues and responses for the Governor and the Legislature to act upon; and ensures compliance with relevant statutes, rules and policies pertaining to corrections facilities, services and treatment of incarcerated people under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC).
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.
A candidate for this appointment may not be disqualified under N.J.S.A. 52:27EE-26(d)(2). If appointed, the Corrections Ombudsperson will report to the Governor and shall hold office for a term of five years and may continue to hold office until reappointed.