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Job Specification

CORRECTIONAL POLICE MAJOR 

DEFINITION:

Under the direction of an Administrator, Prison Complex or a Superintendent or 
other higher level supervisory official in the Department of Corrections, or in the 
Juvenile Justice Commission, provides oversight for custody programs and operations, 
functions as a higher level manager in the custody workforce chain of command 
providing oversight of subordinate custody employees, and ensures the care, custody, 
and maintenance of discipline among inmates at all levels of incarceration residing at 
various site locations; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official 
performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does 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 the job 
specification.  Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Exercises full police powers and acts as a peace officer at all times for the detection, 
apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law.

Manages the custody workforce chain of command and oversees custodial operations.

Organizes supervisory custodial work and develops effective work procedures.  

Ensures the observance of laws and regulations by inmates, custody staff, civilian 
employees, and visitors.

Oversees non-criminal facility investigations, where appropriate, or rules and 
regulations violations committed by custody staff members or inmates and 
recommends and/or initiates appropriate action.  

Reviews pertinent criminal intelligence regarding institutional security and ensures 
appropriate action.

Conducts grievance hearings with labor organizations and/or individuals who have 
submitted contractual and non-contractual grievances and represent management 
at various hearings when required.

Oversees preparation of staff schedules, including assignment of officers to posts 
and shifts, scheduling of overtime, and vacation scheduling.  

Evaluates the need for overtime and implements procedures for eliminating 
unnecessary overtime expenditures.

Develops or supervises development of training programs for all custody personnel.

Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility 
for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or 
disciplining of employees.

Responds to attempted or actual escapes and ensures appropriate escape 
procedures are implemented and enforced; submits comprehensive reports 
of circumstances to the appropriate administrator and/or director.

Carries a firearm and other restraint/defense equipment while performing duties 
or off-duty; is responsible for the care, use, and security of firearms and equipment.

Responsible for the operations of custodial staff and briefing shift lieutenants on 
proper performance of essential institutional routines.

Serves as a member of various Classification Committees and utilizes inmate 
classification material to make judgments on the degree of custody required 
for an individual inmate in order to prevent disturbances and escapes.

Oversees access to services for the inmate population including, but not limited 
to, education, social services, drug treatment, etc.

Supervises custody, rehabilitation, protection, housing, feeding, work, and discipline 
of inmates and assists with social rehabilitation.

Ensures appropriate access to health services for the inmate population.

Evaluates fiscal needs of the custody unit, submits requests for budget appropriations, 
attempts to operate within fiscal restraints, and justifies cost overruns.

Ensures all emergencies and unusual incidents are responded to and reported on 
while adhering to department protocols and ensures appropriate escape procedures 
are implemented and enforced.

Submits comprehensive reports of escapes and other emergent situations through 
the chain of command.

May operate the Central Operations Desk as the centralized contact person to 
whom all statewide facilities report incidents and occurrences; records, screens, 
and processes related information and notifies the appropriate authorities. 

Evaluates incidents or activities that cause significant negative impact on facility 
operations and initiates appropriate action as dictated by department policy. 

May serve as a regional supervisor for more than one correctional facility, 
conducting audits of custody programs and serving as a liaison between 
Central Office Administration and the correctional facilities. 
 
Prepares complex, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports, documents, 
and correspondence.  

Communicates the mission and goals of the department verbally and in writing 
using various forums and techniques.

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.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

Possession of a high school diploma or its equivalent.

EXPERIENCE:

Six (6) years of experience in the care and custody of inmates in a correctional 
institution, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

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

LICENSE: 

Appointee 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.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of modern law enforcement 
relevant to the security, care, and rehabilitation of criminal offenders.

Knowledge of custodial care procedures in a correctional setting. 

Knowledge of managing and maintaining a secure, safe, and orderly correctional 
facility.

Knowledge of resource allocation and reallocation methods.

Knowledge of care, use, and security of firearms and restraint/defense equipment.

Knowledge of techniques used to conduct investigations.   

Knowledge of methods used for supervising custody, rehabilitation, protection, 
housing, feeding, work, and discipline.

Knowledge of methods and principles of social rehabilitation of inmates. 

Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects 
within the unit.

Ability to carry a weapon while on duty.

Ability to formulate and communicate program goals and objectives in a manner 
that will encourage staff to achieve them.

Ability to interpret Department of Corrections standards, policies, objectives, 
regulations, and procedures of correctional institution conduct and apply them 
to specific situations. 

Ability to interpret N.J.S.A. 2C criminal code and apply it to use of lethal and 
nonlethal force in the custody of social offenders.

Ability to develop and maintain adequate staffing standards.

Ability to supervise and conduct investigations and inspections.

Ability to develop and execute necessary plans to contend with emergencies 
and other crisis situations, and to remain calm and decisive in those situations.

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 be proficient in the care, use and security of firearms and other 
restraint/defense equipment.

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 
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.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
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VariantState,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
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State
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Code
Local
Class
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Note
32660SCN499N/A499-

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.

9/24/2022