SUPERVISING CLASSIFICATION OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Career Family: SUPERVISING CLASSIFICATION OFFICER
In New Jersey, Supervising Classification Officer, Department of Corrections is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a bachelor's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY2027 range lands between $100,498 and $148,187, and state payroll currently lists about 27 people in the title, most of them at Corrections.
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.
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Agency posting
Department of Corrections's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 27 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $133,961. The agencies employing the most are:
- Corrections (27)
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.
Definition
Under the direction of a higher-level supervisory or administrative official in the Department of Corrections, supervises the activities of the inmate classification unit or the inmate release notification unit; or supervises activities and staff conducting classification functions in the correctional facilities; supervises staff performing classification functions and the administration of the Objective Classification System including the review of sentence expiration calculations to ensure accuracy; supervises the organization and submission of relevant medical, custodial, psychological, psychiatric, substance abuse, social services, educational, and other information concerning inmates that is presented at initial classification and subsequent periodical reviews by the Classification Committee; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required. When assigned to an inmate release notification unit, supervises the activities and staff involved with the Institutional Release Unit and Category I/II caseload management procedures, or supervises the activities and operations of a release notification program including the performance of inmate release functions; ensures the timely and appropriate release of inmates; reviews sentence expiration calculations to ensure accuracy of timely prosecutor's notification; ensures preparation of inmate records for review by the Institutional Release Committee and the Civil Commitment Review Committee as appropriate; and ensures the completion of DNA sampling and registration of inmates as sex offenders; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees. Supervises the gathering, organization, and presentation of relevant medical, custodial, psychological, psychiatric, educational, social service, substance abuse, and other information concerning inmates that is presented at initial classification and subsequent periodical reviews by the Classification Committee. Supervises activities of staff engaged in implementing provisions of appropriate laws and regulations relevant to classification, level of security, status, transfer, or release of inmates. Supervises the recommendation of referrals for general forensic and sexually violent predator (SVP) involuntary commitments for inmates with serious mental health issues. Supervises the preparation of the Objective Classification System scoring instrument used to assign inmates to the most appropriate levels of security, housing locations, or facility assignment, work assignments, and treatment programs. Supervises classification reviews of inmates in accordance with established procedures. Provides advice and interprets criteria and statutory obligations for the Classification Committee. Maintains liaison with court, county and state correctional and detention facility staff, State Parole Board, and other agencies. As appropriate, recommends and requests advisory opinions from the Attorney General's Office. Confers with the administrator or other designee on classification records/summaries, progress reports, reclassification, parole cases, and parole violators. Supervises preparation of recommendations for transfer, status, guidance, vocational training, and housing arrangements for individual inmates. Serves as a member of the various Classification Committees, assists in the review of offenders scheduled for annual review, modifications to existing status, and housing assignments; prepares agendas for committee meetings as appropriate. Supervises the activities of the Institutional Release Unit and Category I/II caseload management, including utilization of reports and computer software, monitoring, workload distribution, and other activities involving the release and notification of release of all inmates. Supervises the tracking of Category I inmates during incarceration until discharge by the Department of Corrections and ensures offenders are released at the correct time. Ensures that written notification is provided for inmates' parole, expiration of maximum sentence, sentence commutation, sentence change, escape status, or death to the appropriate prosecutor according to applicable statutes, policies, and procedures. Serves as the Coordinator of the Inmate Release Unit, confirming the validity of inmate release. Serves as a member of the Civil Commitment Review Committee and Institutional Release Committee, assisting in the review of offenders scheduled for release and/or possible civil commitment. Prepares the Institutional Release Committee Form for signature by all Committee members and ensures that all items for review are noted. Notifies the Attorney General of Category I/II inmates who meet the criteria required for involuntary commitment consideration as a sexually violent predator; ensures that the Attorney General notification form letter is sent with supporting information; documents that particular inmate meets the criteria for involuntary commitment as a sexually violent predator. Coordinates the certification of inmates who meet the criteria for forensic civil commitment. Requests and verifies DNA sampling in accordance with applicable statutes, policies, and procedures. Supervises preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative case histories and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Prepares and supervises the preparation of correspondence, which may include Judicial Clarification letters necessitated by a literal interpretation of the Conviction orders of the Court. Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files. 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 correction and parole methods and practices. Knowledge of the structure and operations of correction and parole systems. Knowledge of the involuntary civil commitment process. Knowledge of research and interviewing techniques. Knowledge of the types of services and treatment options available to inmates. Knowledge of the Objective Classification System and scoring criteria. Ability to read, interpret, and apply federal and state laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of the department regarding the level of security, rehabilitation, status, transfer, release, and parole of inmates. Ability to supervise the organization and presentation of relevant material before pre-parole and classification committees. Ability to supervise the interview and classification of inmates. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to review assembled data relating to individual inmates and prescribe a recommended program of orientation and rehabilitation. Ability to plan and carry out programs of prerelease, pre-parole, and other training for inmates. Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of correspondence. Ability to supervise the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative case records, summaries, histories, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files. 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. 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 experience in program delivery or development in providing education, rehabilitative, or social services for persons with emotional, social or behavioral problems, or experience in the review of records and classification of inmates which shall have included providing recommendations for vocational and other rehabilitation programs, and/or probation or parole work with inmates of a penal or correctional facility, including or supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hour credits in a combination of any of the following areas: criminal justice, legal research, law, sociology, psychology, or other related areas of the behavioral or social sciences. One (1) year of experience shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hour credits in a combination of any of the following areas: criminal justice, legal research, law, sociology, psychology, or other related areas of the behavioral or social sciences; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year 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.