SENIOR PAROLE OFFICER

Definition

In a parole district of the state under direction of the Assistant District Parole Supervisor, District Parole Supervisor, or Supervising Parole Officer in the New Jersey State Parole Board, conducts investigations related to parole planning and assumes responsibility of persons paroled from state institutions; coordinates, develops, and monitors various programs geared toward parolee and family involvement in community treatment; works to ensure that movements of inmates across state lines comply with interstate compacts under the department's jurisdictions; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Acts as a peace officer for the detection, arrest, and conviction of offenders.
• Carries a firearm and other restraint/defense equipment while performing duties; is responsible for care, use, and security of firearm and equipment.
• Plans and supervises programs for social, emotional, and economic adjustment of parolees and prospective parolees in an effort to provide community treatment; conducts follow up evaluations.
• Conducts prerelease and related investigations.
• Conducts investigations of existing and potential employment opportunities available for persons on parole or to be paroled.
• Prepares reports to be used in the preparation of case histories.
• Interviews parolees, employers, and interested relatives explaining parole restrictions, aims, and resources of the Division of Parole.
• When necessary, takes parole violators into custody, conducts investigations and evaluations, and seeks viable alternatives to further confinement.
• Maintains cooperative working relationships with various community agencies including police, courts, probation, welfare agencies, and medical facilities for the purpose of rehabilitating persons on parole.
• When assigned to a parole office in a prison, correction institution, or training school, conducts the division's institution program, and instructs parolees regarding conditions and stipulations of their parole, and in the rules and regulations of the Division of Parole.
• Reviews and evaluates written and verbal information from intra- and interstate parole supervision agencies and compact offices to ensure that actions they take or recommend are in compliance with interstate compact mandates; verifies receipt of case material from other states against checklists and other instruments.
• Issues or authorizes the issuance of warrants to obtain custody of fugitives and compact clients when parole has been violated, contemplated, or attempted.
• Monitors out-of-state inmates serving concurrent New Jersey sentences to ensure that Judgments of Conviction are filed, and the terms and conditions of the New Jersey sentence are met.
• Confers with Hearing Officer and/or Board Member to effectuate intermediate sanctions on selected cases and provide a cost benefit to the department through the parole violator analysis process.
• Computes remaining sentence lengths and maintains current classification and sentence records on New Jersey inmates housed out-of-state under the Interstate Corrections Compact.
• Computes and maintains remaining sentence lengths on out-of-state inmates serving concurrent New Jersey sentences; requests court clarification when necessary.
• Will be required to place a parole violator under arrest; contacts local law enforcement authority to provide information and/or request assistance.
• Recognizes and rapidly evaluates potentially dangerous situations involving parolees/parole violators; exercises caution and independent judgment in handling these circumstances to avoid personal injury, or to prevent endangerment of the general public or serious property damage.
• When in the institution, processes parolee for release both at the parent institution and satellite units.
• Provides instruction and guidance to Parole Officer Recruits.
• Serves as a resource person in parole matters; assists in orientation, in-service, and on-the-job training.
• Coordinates and monitors the furlough, study-release, and work- release programs; assists in the resolution of problems between the institution phase and the community phase.
• Participates in the volunteer-in-parole program; recruits volunteers, provides training, and monitors volunteer performance.
• Provides immediate and long-term assistance with parolee problems.
• Develops new sources of client assistance, and instructs district office personnel regarding available organizations and individuals.
• Prepares regular and monthly reports and correspondence concerning parolees and their activities.
• Maintains records of financial aid accounts for parolees; receives requests for emergency assistance, provides disbursements, and requests reimbursements as needed.
• Conducts special investigations and furnishes evaluations of Executive Clemency and Extradition requested by the Governor's Office and/or the State Parole Board.
• Serves as Division Hearing Officer in the preliminary phase of Probable Cause Hearings, and makes recommendations and decisions regarding parolee status.
• Discusses offenders' court imposed revenue obligations, sets payment schedules, and makes collections; coordinates collection efforts with other government or private agencies in the event of default; performs record keeping and maintenance activities.
• Collects, interprets, and disseminates bureau statistics for the National Uniform Parole Reports; accounts for materials forwarded to the National Crime Information Center and the New Jersey Criminal Justice Information System. May review and evaluate New Jersey parole cases residing out of state; prepares recommendations regarding parolee status and necessary correspondence.
• Establishes and maintains records and files.
• Will 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.

Requirements

Appointees to this position shall be required to qualify in the use of firearms on an annual basis.

Appointees must have satisfactorily completed a training course approved by the Police Training Commission (PTC) which included instruction in the proper use of firearms.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice or related Social or behavioral science..

Experience

One (1) year of experience in law enforcement or social casework, probation casework, or parole casework or, supervising or counseling inmates in a penal or correctional institution.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of techniques utilized to conduct interviews and investigations of parolees, their families, and other related parole matters.
• Knowledge of correctional and parole methods and practices.
• Knowledge of the care, use, and security of firearms and other restraint/defense equipment.
• Knowledge of economic, social, emotional, and other problems of paroled persons, and of reactions to be expected of such persons.
• Knowledge of varied community resources likely to be useful in the social, economic, and emotional rehabilitation of persons on parole.
• Knowledge of available methods used to collect payments in default, and to maintain record.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply the laws of New Jersey relevant to the care, treatment, and training of probationers, parolees, and inmates of penal and correction institutions, and of court procedures in New Jersey.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with parolees, local officials, and others interested in or concerned with the rehabilitation of parolees.
• Ability to recognize and evaluate potentially dangerous situations involving parolees and to exercise caution and independent judgement in the handling of these circumstances.
• Ability to relay information on the laws, rules, and regulations relevant to parole to persons of varying ethnic backgrounds, and education and economic levels.
• Ability to gain the confidence and respect of parolees, provide them with assistance and advice, and exert a positive influence toward their rehabilitation.
• Ability to review and evaluate parole cases.
• Ability to issue or authorize the issuance of warrants.
• Ability to compute sentence lengths.
• Ability to set payment schedules to collect court imposed revenue obligations concomitant with the capability to pay to coordinate efforts necessary to collect payments in default, and to maintain records thereon.
• Ability to provide instruction and guidance to Parole Officer Recruits.
• Ability to conduct routine, special, and confidential investigations as assigned and prepare detailed reports.
• Ability to compile and prepare detailed case histories.
• Ability to compose detailed correspondence on parole matters.
• Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
• Ability to be proficient in the care, use, and security of firearms and other restraint/defense equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret information on the theory of social casework, penology, sociology, and criminology.
• Ability to function as a peace officer for the detection, arrest, and conviction of offenders.
• Ability to coordinate and/or participate in and monitor varied programs for the rehabilitation, education, or development of parolees.
• Ability to collect, interpret, and disseminate statistical information.
• Ability 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 as long as they can perform 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.
• CODES: 22/F22 - MCK 12/14/02 23/F23 -

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.

SPECIAL