PAROLE OFFICER I7556L1 Pay Grade: 22 DEFINITION OF WORK Summary This is work in the case management and rehabilitation of individuals who have been released on parole by the Kansas Parole Board from a correctional institution and individuals on parole or probation in Kansas under the terms and conditions of the Interstate Compact. Work involves the performance of professional field work in communicating with and providing assistance to adult parolees and Compact clients with an assigned geographical area. Under the direction of a Parole Officer II or under the supervision of a Parole Supervisor, provides direction and counsels an assigned caseload of adult offenders to assist such clients in understanding and meeting requirements placed on them. Work includes assisting clients with personal, social, financial, family, employment or psychological problems. Participates in working with various community service agencies and law enforcement authorities in establishing and coordinating community projects that will serve to enhance the rehabilitative process and reintegration of the offender into the community. Standard Classification Factors Supervision Received - LEVEL B: "Under general supervision…" Employees working under general supervision usually receive some instructions with respect to the details of most assignments but are free to develop their own work sequences within established procedures, methods and policies. They are often physically removed from their supervisor and subject to only periodic checks. Difficulty - LEVEL B: Average… Where the employee is confronted with a variety of duties susceptible to different methods of solution which, in turn, places a correspondingly higher demand upon resourcefulness and concentration. Positions which require the analysis and evaluation of raw data and the rendering of conclusions would, in many instances, fall into this category. Complexity - LEVEL B: Work is of a structured nature including duties that have several related steps. This level involves simple analysis of data, identification of easily distinguishable facts and recognition of differences in related situations. Workers at this level exercise limited independent judgment in determining methods or procedures to be used in making minor decisions. Work is normally controlled by frequent review and consultation with supervisors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually specific and aid in determining an approach to problems or situations. Workers at this level must be able to identify basic differences in situations to determine the actions which need to be taken. Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial. Contacts - LEVEL A: The purpose of the contact is to obtain, clarify, give or screen established factual information, regardless of the type (i.e., easily understood or technical) within a well-defined relationship. Normal communication skills are required. Physical Demands - LEVEL A: The work is predominantly sedentary and requires minimal or negligible physical exertion. The employee is normally seated; however, the nature of the work allows for periods of standing or walking at will. Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible. Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL A: No supervisory or leadership responsibility; may explain work instructions or assist in training others. Distinguishing Features Differs from the Parole Officer II class which become more complex or specialized due to the handling of more difficult parole cases which require intensive supervision. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED Performs pre-parole investigations for the purpose of determining the suitability of the inmate's proposed parole plan. Investigation includes, but is not limited to, the acceptability of living conditions, desirability of environment, employment plan, law enforcement opinions regarding the prospective parolee and sponsor, if appropriate. Maintains personal contact with parolees commensurate with the assigned level of supervision and assists with such problems as marital discord, finances, housing, vocational/educational training, mental and psychological counseling; makes appropriate referral to community service agencies specializing in administering assistance to individuals with problems as enumerated above; receives regular reports from individuals under active supervision stating financial, employment, home conditions and arrest information, if any, in accordance with the schedule established in the Supervision Plan. Assumes responsibility for monitoring the activities of individuals assigned to caseload to ensure that the rules and regulations of parole are being complied with; prepares and submits violation or incident reports for major infractions of parole conditions to the paroling authority or court of primary jurisdiction; recommends the issuance of parole violation warrants for those individuals who have violated the conditions of their parole. Makes regular and special home visits to the client's home; consults with and advises family members separately or jointly; counsels clients with personal problems and assists in the social adjustment of the client to the community. Maintains an open line of communication and working relationship with law enforcement officials, community resource and social service agencies, Court Service Officers and various educational/vocational institutions, who may be of service in providing for clients' needs. Assumes responsibility for the preparation and submission of appropriate OBSCIS (Offender Based State Corrections Information System) form pertaining to change in client status or activity. Makes visits to correctional institutions periodically for the purpose of establishing personal contact with prospective parolees assigned to caseload. Such contact may be established by letter or telephone. Maintains case files in accordance with existing Field Service Order and records client contacts by completing chronological information sheet or by submission of appropriate Case Report. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS Knowledge Knowledge of the principles, methods and procedures to facilitate an acceptable reintegration and/or continued adjustment of criminal offenders within their environment. Knowledge of the attitudes, problems and behavior of individual criminal offenders. *Knowledge of human behavior and interpersonal relationships. Knowledge of basic terminology and concepts of parole. Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations applicable to parole. Knowledge of legal terminology and procedures. Knowledge of individual counseling techniques. Knowledge of available community resource agencies. Knowledge of information sources concerning clients' backgrounds. *Knowledge of English usage and written communication format. Knowledge of the uses of standard agency forms. Knowledge of legal restrictions for obtaining, recording and disseminating information about clients. Abilities *Ability to interact with convicted felons and others in order to establish and maintain professional working relationships with them. Ability to uncover, organize and consolidate information for investigation and planning purposes, and to evaluate and make recommendations based upon this information. Ability to supervise, counsel and assist criminal offenders upon release from a correctional institution. *Ability to communicate information concisely and accurately. *Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions. *Ability to maintain impartiality in dealing with criminal offenders. *Necessary at Entry MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A Bachelor’s
Degree with major coursework in criminal justice, the social sciences, or the
behavioral sciences. Experience may
be substituted for the required coursework as determined relevant by the agency. Necessary Special Requirements: NC: 06/89 |