Corrections Specialist 4

State of Washington • Benton County – Kennewick, WA

18h

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Corrections is hiring a permanent, full-time Corrections Specialist 4 for its Partial Confinement Screening & Transition Unit in Kennewick, Washington. This is an internal appointment open only to current DOC employees. The position develops, maintains, and implements the identification, screening, and selection process for incarcerated individuals transferring to partial confinement, including Reentry Centers and electronic home monitoring through Graduated Reentry (GRE). The role supports Reentry Services by working with incarcerated individuals, families, community agencies, other state agencies, and DOC divisions.

The position reviews cases and documentation, interviews incarcerated individuals, coordinates with partners, and makes or documents recommendations about partial-confinement placement. It also develops procedures, maintains tracking systems, prepares transfer orders, and provides information and training to staff and other stakeholders. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; work hours are subject to unit needs and the unit supervisor’s discretion.

The role is based in the Community Corrections and Reentry Division and supports the division’s purpose of providing people with focused opportunities for success. Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting.

Requirements

• Four years of experience as a Community Corrections Officer, Correctional Specialist, or Classification Counselor within the Washington State Department of Corrections; or a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education; or an equivalent combination of qualifying education and experience totaling seven years.
• In addition to the above, one year of experience screening cases for partial confinement; or two years as a Corrections Specialist in the Partial Confinement Screening & Transition Unit; or three years, within the last five years, as a DOC case manager that includes developing or approving Custody Facility Plans with custody-level promotion or demotion recommendations and at least three of the following: writing reports, assessing cases and making recommendations, referring people to appropriate resources, or presenting cases in court, hearings, or to a committee.
• Professional case-management experience includes assessing risk factors; designing, monitoring, or facilitating treatment plans; making referrals to resources such as chemical-dependency services, family counseling, or job-training assistance; and maintaining official records and tracking client progress or compliance.
• Demonstrated competency in community relationships, including forming and maintaining successful relationships with criminal justice partners, other state agencies, and community resources.
• Demonstrated observation skills, including strategizing personal responses based on environmental conditions and human behavior.
• Demonstrated stress tolerance, including remaining calm and rational in difficult, volatile, threatening, or emergency situations and intervening in response to threats.
• Knowledge and application of community-corrections law, policy, procedure, and practice; adherence to productivity standards and timelines; and proactive identification of training needs.
• Adaptability, including incorporating new information, accepting change, and supporting the agency through changes in law, policy, and procedure.
• Core competencies at hire: safety; treating others with respect and courtesy; dependability; accountability; judgment and problem solving; leadership; communication; relationship building; ethos and integrity; and embracing diversity and cultural differences.
• Applicants must attach a current chronological resume, a letter of interest of no more than two pages, and at least three professional references with email addresses and phone numbers.
• The successful candidate must provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
• A background check, including criminal-record history, will be conducted before hire. A pre-employment drug test may be administered; applicants who test positive for controlled substances will be disqualified.
• The successful candidate may be required to provide proof of a baseline tuberculosis skin test within 60 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education, together with two years of experience screening cases for partial confinement; or three years as a Corrections Specialist in the Partial Confinement Screening & Transition Unit; or three years within the last five years as a DOC case manager meeting the specified Custody Facility Plan and case-management criteria.

Responsibilities

• Identify eligible incarcerated individuals for Graduated Reentry and Reentry Center programs by reviewing electronic documentation, interviewing individuals, and gathering information from internal and external partners.
• Approve individuals for transfer to partial confinement or prepare written reports recommending denial.
• Develop and maintain processes for identifying, screening, and selecting individuals for Reentry Center and GRE placement, including cross-divisional coordination.
• Interview individuals and prepare reentry pathways in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Document placement decisions and maintain internal tracking systems.
• Prepare and approve transfer orders for placement in GRE and Reentry Center programs.
• Review policy and work with the supervisor to create and maintain a desk manual describing program processes and procedures.
• Track individuals targeted for Reentry Center placement at 12 months and individuals targeted for GRE placement at 5 or 18 months, as applicable.
• Maintain internal and external communication processes to inform interested parties about Reentry Center and GRE programs and their effectiveness.
• Prioritize screening based on target eligibility lists and requested transfer orders.
• Work with classification counselors to determine an appropriate Reentry Center location when needed.
• Obtain participant agreement confirmation and submit requests for substance use disorder assessments and level-of-care determinations.
• Screen individuals from lists of statute-eligible incarcerated people provided by Research and Data Analytics (RDA).
• Collaborate with Community Corrections, Reentry, Health Services, Research and Data, and Prisons divisions to share program criteria, pathways, and procedures.
• Facilitate meetings and committees to consider referrals for Reentry Center and GRE placement.
• Communicate and train staff on expectations and processes for GRE and Reentry Center placement, share reentry best practices, and develop successful reentry pathway strategies.
• Meet with administrators and the supervisor regarding strategies and evidence-based practices for Reentry Center and GRE programs.
• Develop draft procedures for statewide application of the screening process.
• Conduct presentations at DOC facilities to educate staff and incarcerated individuals about program procedures.
• Work with administrators to develop websites, publications, and other educational materials.
• Ensure ethical conduct and the efficient and effective use of state resources.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Up to 25 paid vacation days per year.
• Eight hours of paid sick leave per month.
• Eleven paid holidays per year.
• Retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Dependent Care Assistance.
• Deferred Compensation.
• Remote or telework and flexible schedules may be available depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior