HEARING OFFICER 4 STATE PAROLE BOARD

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 direction of a Director, Executive Director or other administrative official in the State Parole Board, supervises and coordinates the work of unit staff assigned to conduct parole hearings, researches and conducts exceptional progress and executive clemency hearings; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Supervises the staff and activities of an assigned section in the State Parole Board or, parole work performed in an institutional setting. Supervises, organizes, plans and schedules the work of parole panels. Supervises hearing officers, schedules and assigns caseloads, and reviews work. Supervises the review of reports and determines whether there is a basis for the denial of parole in the pre-parole reports. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Provides and supervises staff providing recommendations to grant or deny parole. Supervises the investigation of commutation of sentences and recommends whether clemency should be granted, or sentence commutated for life. Supervises the conduct of rescission hearings to determine whether the original parole release should be denied or delayed. Develops and supervises the development of the restrictions and conditions required for the release of a parolee into society, which include obeying the law, living in an approved residence, reporting to a parole officer as directed, and other appropriate restrictions depending on the circumstances of a given case. Supervises the conduct of revocation hearings on parolees to determine whether conditions of parole have been violated. Conducts exceptional progress hearings to determine whether a potential parolee may become eligible for parole at an earlier date due to exceptional progress in Institutional/community programs. Conducts executive clemency hearings to provide information to the State Parole Board whether a recommendation should be made to the Governor for a pardon, commutation of sentence or medical clemency petition. Supervises accelerated revocation hearings to determine unadjudicated criminal charges are in violation of parole. Supervises county panel hearings for offenders serving county sentences under 365 days. Supervises victim input hearings to obtain statements or testimony by the crime victim or relative of the crime victim. Supervises informational hearings of interested parties who apply to the Parole Chairperson to present information, submit evidence, and provide testimony relevant to the parole of an inmate. Supervises restitution hearings to determine the tangible losses suffered by a victim as a result of the crime, determine the offender's assets and ability to pay restitution. Supervises the adjustment hearings to evaluate whether evidence submitted by a parole officer to determine whether parole has been violated; may modify conditions of parole. Contacts family or community members for relevant case information when required. Supervises the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files. Recommends sanctions based on the severity and/or number of parole violations. Advises and cooperates with the Office of the Attorney General on all appeals on parole rescission and parole revocation actions. Supervises the preparation of weekly and monthly statistical reports. Acts as a liaison to external agencies to facilitate the timely submission of parole plans and scheduling of release hearings. 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.

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 the due process provisions of appropriate cases. Knowledge of the operations of the Parole Revocation parole panels. Knowledge of the techniques used to conduct hearings and take testimony. Knowledge of the methods used to gather and analyze information. Ability to advise the State Parole Board on decisions concerning revocation, rescission and probable cause policies, rules and regulations. Ability to interpret and apply relevant New Jersey statutes, Superior Court Appellate Division decisions, opinions/rulings of the Attorney General, and rules/regulations of the State Parole Board as applied to parole policies and procedures. Ability to supervise, organize, arrange, and/or conduct hearings within the requirements established by the decision and subsequent administrative/judicial decisions. Ability to understand and evaluate information on parole revocation/rescission and probable cause actions and make appropriate determinations in the course of action. Ability to review informational, Division and prosecutor applications for accelerated revocation, county panel hearings and restitution hearings. Ability to preside at hearings and provide rulings. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to prepare extensive, technical correspondence and Notices of Decision including responses to the Office of the Public Defender. Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of hearings and other related matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to maintain and/or supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files. Ability to advise the Office of the Attorney General on parole probable cause, rescission and revocation appeals and issues. 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 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 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. 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. Eleven (11) years of experience in a professional position directly related to parole, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and seven (7) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a JD or LLB from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "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.