CLASSIFICATION OFFICER APPRENTICE
DEFINITION
Under the close supervision of a Supervising Classification Officer or other supervisory official in a State prison, juvenile detention facility or county jail, in a three-year training program, receives formal and on-the-job training to learn to apply appropriate state and federal laws and department regulations governing the level of security status, transfer, and involuntary commitment of inmates; as directed learns to participate in the activities involved in classifying inmates using the Objective Classification System, coordinates inmate records, calculates sentence expiration, and prepares materials for use by the Bureau of Parole, the State Parole Board, and other committees; does related work.
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 an Apprentice and productive worker while receiving appropriate degree of supervision learns and assists with:
Learns to interview inmates at the onset of incarceration and explains department classification process; prepares case histories, case analysis, and classification summaries.
Organizes relevant information and inmate histories to be presented at weekly meetings of the Institutional Classification Committee, including reports received from the educational, custodial, and other staff members.
Prepares and maintains classification materials for all inmates received at the institution.
Makes all the necessary arrangements for the transfer of inmates to other institutions, and prepares transfer orders.
Prepares inmate histories and other matters for the Institutional Classification Committee and/or paroling authority.
Prepares and presents data for submission to the Board of Institutional Trustees concerning inmates to be recommended for discharge from parole by the Bureau of Parole.
Makes arrangements for the release of individuals scheduled for parole; determines whether all warrants filed against inmates have been cleared prior to the release.
Maintains liaison between the interdepartmental institutions and the Institutional Parole Office concerning parolees and inmates.
Responds to correspondence.
Reads and interprets criminal history reports and other law enforcement summaries to apply objective classification scoring criteria.
Calculates sentence expirations by applying allowances for work performed, minimum credits earned, and other factors.
Arranges for the registration of potential parolees whose convictions fall within the parameters of community notification statutes.
Prepares the Objective Classification System scoring instrument; interprets the scoring instrument to assist the Institutional Classification Committee in determining the most appropriate inmate level of security.
Applies appropriate federal and state laws and department regulations governing the level of security, status, transfer, and involuntary commitments of inmates.
Provides recommendations regarding referrals for involuntary commitments of sex offenders.
Confers with the Administration on classifications records, summaries, progress reports, reclassifications, parole cases, and parole violators.
Prepares reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Establishes and maintains records and files.
Prepares recommendations for the type of housing, work, education, and other assignments to be given to individual inmates, upon assignment to a specific institution.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording techniques and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: 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.
Four (4) years of professional experience in program delivery or development in providing education, habilitative, 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 disciplines of behavioral or social sciences.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or univeristy, 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.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range of basic knowledge of the profession's concepts and practices; and is performed with the authority to act and make accurate and informed decisions.
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 AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the principles of correction and parole.
Knowledge of the structure and operations of the correctional and parole systems.
Knowledge of the methods used to conduct research.
Knowledge of interview techniques.
Knowledge of the Objective Classification System and scoring criteria after a period of training.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply the 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 learn to organize and present material before pre-parole and classification committees, and to prepare recommendations for their use.
Ability to learn to interview inmates, compile materials for, and prepare complete classification records, summaries, and social histories of inmates.
Ability to learn to prepare and provide recommendations regarding housing, work, education, and other inmate assignments.
Ability to provide information in written, oral or other formats to the appropriate boards and committees to facilitate their decision-making process.
Ability to learn to facilitate arrangements for the release and transfer of inmates in accordance with department policies.
Ability to prepare correspondence.
Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative reports of classification and related matters containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
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 semi-annually during each twelve (12) months of the three (3) year apprenticeship program. Upon successful completion of the thirty-six (36) month apprenticeship program, appointees will be eligible for advancement to the title of Classification Officer 2, in accordance with Civil Service Commission procedures.
The inability of an employee in the Apprentice title to attain the required level of performance stipulated in each of the twelve (12) month training periods shall be considered cause for separation from employment.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
