Job Specification
CORRECTIONAL POLICE OFFICER APPRENTICE
DEFINITION:
Under the immediate supervision of a training officer or other
supervisory official in the Department of Corrections, as a
student, attends an in-residence course of study for correctional
police officers approved by the NJ Police Training Commission
at the Corrections Staff Training Academy or other designated
approved academy and a non-residential period of on-site training
at an assigned correctional facility; performs other related duties
as required.
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.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
As a student:
As an apprentice and productive worker, observes and participates
in activities associated with the care and custody of inmates and
clients and does work which will provide a working knowledge of,
and preparedness for, practical custody experience.
Attends classes and seminars designed to address principles of
inmate and client supervision practices and other law enforcement
activities, in accordance with New Jersey Statutes and regulations.
Observes and learns the proper procedures to exercise full police
powers and act as a peace officer at all times for the detection,
apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law.
During the period of on-site training, assists senior correctional
police officers or other custody staff in the performance of their
assigned duties and receives on-the-job training and instruction
in the proper methods and practices for monitoring inmate and
client activities, and learns other aspects of job.
Learns the proper usage, security, integrity, and care for carrying
firearms and the responsibility of maintaining firearms and other
restraints and defense equipment while performing assigned duties.
Attends a training program to learn various law enforcement
practices, instructions, and qualifications in the use of firearms,
physical preparedness, self-defense, report preparation,
surveillance and detection techniques, laws, applicable
regulations, practices, and procedures for arrest and
apprehension of violators.
Learns to perform custodial duties in accordance with established
policies, regulations, and procedures to encourage and assist
persons deprived of their liberty toward complete social rehabilitation.
Attends training in the proper methods and procedures to be used
in patrolling assigned areas of the buildings and grounds and
making required reports by telephone, punch clock, or other means;
learns to make periodic counts of inmates and clients, and report the
whereabouts of absent inmates and clients.
Learns to assist in controlling the general conduct and behavior of
inmates and clients according to established institution procedures
and prevent disturbances and escape attempts.
Observes and participates in various classification and selection
committees’ processes and related principles and practices a
ssociated with these forums.
Learns the proper methods of reporting violations of prison rules
to supervisory officials.
Attends training in the proper procedures and methods to be used
in the maintenance of discipline in the prison cells, recreation yards,
schools, hospitals, theaters, churches, mess halls, shops, farms,
and other places where inmates and clients are gathered in groups.
Learns to assist in ensuring that contraband articles are not concealed
on the bodies of the inmates and clients or in any part of the institution,
and that institution property and equipment is kept in a clean, safe,
and orderly condition.
Attends training in the making of periodic inspections of the locks,
window bars, grills, doors, gates, and any other places of possible
egress from the institution.
Learns the proper procedures to be used in escorting inmate and
client movements.
Attends training on noting suspicious persons and conditions and
taking appropriate measures in reporting significant actions,
occurrences, and conditions in the buildings and on the grounds;
learns to report conditions constituting dangers and hazards and
take the necessary steps to ensure safe and orderly conditions.
Attends demonstrations of the proper methods of utilizing available
institution equipment and accessories.
Learns the proper procedure to be used in escorting inmates and
clients when their presence is required in a court of law.
Learns the proper procedures to be used when assigned to medical
facilities, to ensure the safety and security of departmental and
non-departmental personnel in the performance of their duties.
Learns the proper procedures to be used when assigned to sentry
duty, to observe everything significant that takes place within sight
and hearing of the post, to report unusual events to supervisory
personnel, and to prevent disorders and escapes.
Receives training in the preparation of reports and maintenance
of essential records.
Learns how to recognize and rapidly evaluate potentially dangerous
situations involving inmates and clients.
Learns to exercise caution and good judgment in handling
circumstances to restore order, avoid personal injury, or to
prevent endangerment to the general public and/or serious
property damage.
Learns how to identify and properly deal with security violations
and to enforce appropriate sanctions.
Learns the practices and procedures for monitoring specific
enforcement programs.
Learns how to prepare incident reports of inmate and client violations
and the procedures for reporting such incidents; learns about the
investigations required to prepare reports.
Learns to prepare and compose correspondence, memorandums,
and other communications.
Learns how to act as a witness and testify before formal hearings,
grand juries, courts of law, administrative hearings, or other judicial
bodies.
Learns procedures on how to convey information to inmates, clients,
and their relatives who do not speak English as their first language.
Learns how to maintain essential records and the security of
confidential records and files.
Observes and learns to be of assistance in performing investigations
and in preparing detailed, cohesive reports.
Attends training designed to ensure that inmate and client rights are
not violated.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and computerized information system used by the
agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Possession of a High School Diploma or its equivalent.
AGE:
Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.
CITIZENSHIP:
Must be a United States citizen at the time of appointment.
SPECIAL NOTES:
At time of appointment, eligible candidates for this position must
submit acceptable proof of meeting the indicated requirements.
Where hiring preferences apply, appointments must meet the
residency requirements of the jurisdiction as of the filing date,
and up to and including the date of appointment.
Appointees must be eligible to possess a firearm in accordance
with State and federal laws.
Candidates certified from the eligible list for this title will be
required to undergo a thorough background check, including
driving record, criminal history, psychological, and medical
testing.
Candidates will be required to provide a urine sample for drug
testing. Testing for unlawful drug use may be administered at
random during the training program. Test results showing the
use of such drugs shall be considered a cause for separation
from employment.
Candidates accepting employment are required to adhere to the
employment restrictions that they do not pursue outside gainful
employment unless approved by the Commissioner, Department
of Corrections or appropriate designee.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in
New Jersey.
NOTE: 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.
TRAINING:
NOTE: Appointees will be required to satisfactorily complete a
Police Training Commission approved Corrections Academy
program which includes successful attainment of a satisfactory
level of proficiency in the use of firearms, and a period of
on-the-job training at an assigned correctional facility; and will
be responsible for learning the various rules, regulations, policies,
procedures, operational processes, and methods related to a
correctional institution.
NOTE: Appointees will be required to successfully complete
the New Jersey Police Training Commission course standards
in arrest, apprehension, investigations, inmate supervision, and
other related law enforcement requirements. Such training shall
also include firearms training and the ability to qualify and
successfully attain the required level of proficiency, and the ability
to re-qualify with firearms on an annual basis.
NOTE: Appointees will be required to successfully complete a
twelve (12) month Correctional Police Officer working test period
commencing upon advancement to the title of Correctional Police
Officer.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the problems likely to be encountered in work involving
the social rehabilitation, care, and custody of persons deprived of their
liberty, after a period of training.
Knowledge of the principles of criminal justice and their applications
to inmate custody and correction, after a period of training.
Knowledge of the methods likely to be useful in working in an effective
manner with persons of varied types, abilities, and personalities, after
a period of training.
Knowledge of the problems, procedures, and methods involved in
taking suitable action concerning suspicious persons and conditions,
and in reporting significant occurrences and conditions, after a period
of training.
Ability to exercise full police powers and act as a peace officer at
all times for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of
offenders against the law.
Ability to understand the problems involved in assimilating factual
matters of a technical nature and in comprehending and utilizing
essential facts presented by lectures and/or demonstrations, and
of applying technical and factual data in a useful manner in everyday
work in an institution.
Ability to understand what types of difficulties may be encountered
in closely following prescribed rules and regulations.
Ability to carry a weapon while on duty.
Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written
directions, and to learn quickly from oral and written explanations
and demonstrations.
Ability to analyze custodial problems, organize assigned custodial
work, and develop effective work methods.
Ability to recognize significant conditions and to take proper action
according to established procedures.
Ability to understand the emotional adjustment and other problems
of inmates deprived of their liberty.
Ability to deal firmly and effectively with varied types of persons
according to established policy and procedures.
Ability to perform repetitive work without loss of equanimity, patience,
or courtesy, to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations,
and to retain emotional stability.
Ability to assimilate information and profit by department training
programs.
Ability to give clear, accurate, and explicit directions, and to follow
prescribed procedures.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports
of significant conditions and actions taken.
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 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.
ADVANCEMENT:
Appointee's work performance will be reviewed and rated during
the specified period of training for the apprenticeship program as
approved by the Police Training Commission. Upon successful
completion of the apprenticeship program, appointees will be
eligible for advancement to the title of Correctional Police Officer,
in accordance with Civil Service Commission Regulations.
The inability of an employee in the Apprentice title to satisfactorily
complete the training period and/or attain a level of performance
warranting advancement to the title of Correctional Police Officer,
shall be considered a cause for separation from employment.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 32650 | | S | C | 40 | 99 | N/A | X99 | - |
This job specification is for state government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
5/12/2018 |
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