SENIOR HEARING OFFICER INMATE DISCIPLINARY PROGRAM
New Jersey treats Senior Hearing Officer Inmate Disciplinary Program as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.
The spec names a bachelor's degree, but it leaves the door open to substitute experience for the degree. The FY2027 range lands between $95,955 and $141,386.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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.
Definition
Under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner, or other supervisory officer in the Department of Corrections, is responsible for assisting in the planning, organization, and supervision of the Inmate Disciplinary/Protective custody program; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Schedules, coordinates, conducts, and prepares an official record of results of inmate disciplinary and protective custody hearings in the adult prison complex, youth correctional complex, training school complex, and the Correctional Institution for Women. Inspects, monitors, and evaluates the performance of hearing officers at the various institutions. Conducts training for custodial and other staff on due process, disciplinary hearings, investigations, and report writing. Conducts training in specialized subjects such as pre-hearing detention, confrontation, and cross examination. Reviews the results of all disciplinary hearings conducted by nine hearing officers to insure fairness, correctness, compliance with due process procedures, and department standards. Conducts special hearings and/or protective custody hearings as directed by the Commissioner and/or Chief Hearing Officer for cases that have received wide publicity or require special attention to detail. Conducts investigation of improper conduct, violations of due process, procedures by the various hearing officers. Investigates complaints from both institutional staff as well as from inmate advocate agencies. Compiles, maintains, and interprets statistics derived from disciplinary hearings with view towards identifying trends, problems, and corrective action to be taken by staff to preclude recurrence of problems. Assists the various institutional staff in the implementation of the disciplinary process to insure compliance with department standards and due process requirements. Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. Prepares special reports as directed by the Chief Hearing Officer. Assists Commissioner's Office and Institutional Superintendents regarding new policies and procedures relating to all facets of the Disciplinary Hearing process. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the firing, hiring, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
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
Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of provisions of the New Jersey revised statutes concerning Departmental rules, regulations and standards. Considerable knowledge of the particular problems involved in the administration of the varied types of Correctional Prisons, Youth Complexes and Training Schools, and ability to acquire that knowledge as it pertains to the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Considerable knowledge of hearings techniques and the taking of testimony under oath. Ability to supervise, evaluate, assign and instruct subordinate employees. Ability to supervise the organization of assigned hearings work, analyze hearings problems, and schedule and develop appropriate work methods. Ability to analyze issues and hearing problems, interpret and appraise factual data, and identify and correctly apply appropriate provisions of law and/or regulations. Ability to conduct hearings within the requirements established by the provisions of relevant New Jersey and United States Supreme Court decisions. Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and apply the provisions of the New Jersey Revised Statutes concerning Institutional infractions, relevant New Jersey and United States Supreme Court decisions, and departmental rules, regulations and standards. Ability to analyze hearings procedural problems and make appropriate recommendations or decisions. Ability to preside personally at formal individual hearings and make sound decisions as required with respect to disciplinary matters. Ability to prepare extensive, technical correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound and accurate reports of hearings and related matters containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential hearings, reports, records and files. Ability to learn 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, or 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 as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Nine (9) years of professional administrative or supervisory experience in administration or custody, at the level of Lieutenant or above, in a correctional administration or a social work, counseling, parole, educational, treatment or penal setting. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.