Correctional Specialist-Corrections

Howard County Government•Jessup, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a professional level position that is responsible for interviewing, orienting, classifying, and counseling inmates at the Howard County Detention Center. This position also performs a variety of collateral assignments including scheduling inmates for programming. This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months. Performs professional level corrections operations work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes interviewing, counseling, orienting inmates in the Detention Center; classifying inmates and developing and implementing treatment plans; and conducting education and rehabilitation programs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and minimum age of 21 years or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Eligibility for certification by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission and possession of such certificate with 1 year of appointment.
Successful completion of required in- service training courses.
Class C Maryland Driver's License.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Responsibilities

Orient newly incarcerated inmates to Detention Center rules and regulations.
Conduct interviews with inmates to identify problems, needs, and appropriate referrals.
Develop and maintain case history files.
Assign and reassign inmates to appropriate housing units.
Screen, assess, and assign inmates to institutional jobs and programs.
Assist in developing institutional policies and procedures related to classification and community-based programs.
Assist in the placement and supervision of inmates in community-based programs, including work release and home detention.
Provide counseling services to support inmate program participation and adjustment.
Enter inmate information into the automated jail management system.
Perform criminal history and warrant checks using MILES/NCIC/CJIS systems.
Conduct hearings for inmates charged with violation of institutional rules.
Document decisions and ensure compliance with established policies.
Serve as liaison and coordinator for Parole Hearings, Intrastate Detainer Act processing, Social Security reporting, Victim Witness Notification, and Child Sex Offender programs.