Community Corrections - Monitoring Technician

Allen County Indiana•Fort Wayne, IN

About The Position

The Monitoring Technician works under the direction of the Communications Section Chief for Allen County Community Corrections. The position monitors more than 500 participants assigned to Home Detention/Electronic Monitoring and/or Residential Services, including participants convicted of serious and violent offenses. The technician answers participant calls, documents information, provides instructions, installs and inspects electronic monitoring equipment, evaluates and responds to alerts, investigates schedule or location discrepancies, and performs data entry across electronic monitoring, case management, and law enforcement databases. The role also prepares and distributes participant paperwork, coordinates legally required victim notifications, documents changes in participants’ status or circumstances, and assists with staff training and clerical work or special projects. The technician uses evidence-based practices in participant interactions and program development, models pro-social behavior, and completes required correctional evidence-based-practice training. Work involves routine tasks guided by standardized procedures, with some analysis and judgment, particularly during non-business-hour shifts; completed work is reviewed by a supervisor. The position has daily contact with County employees, participants, law enforcement, and the public, including frequent contact with potentially dangerous, violent, or abusive participants. It is performed in a standard office environment and requires frequent sitting, some standing and walking, lifting up to 20 pounds, bending, pushing or pulling loads, kneeling, typing, and detailed monitoring and inspection of equipment. Hours and shifts vary; the schedule is 40 hours per week as assigned, with some on-call duty, nights, weekends, and overtime as required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to simultaneously monitor and document information in an electronic monitoring software system.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to obtain and maintain Indiana Data and Communications Systems/National Crime Information Center (IDACS/NCIC) certification within six months of employment; the requirements section specifies Full Operator Certification, while the licensing section specifies Inquiry Only Operator Certification.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and other job-related software.
Ability to multitask and answer multiple phone lines in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
Ability to use a variety of law enforcement equipment and devices.
Ability to obtain certification in Motivational Interviewing and Interpersonal Communication within one year of employment.
Ability to complete required Correctional EBP training programs and demonstrate competencies focused on empirical recidivism risk-reduction strategies.
Knowledge of evidence-based principles and practices.
Valid driver's license.
Ability to perform the physical activities described, including lifting up to 20 pounds, bending, pushing/pulling loads, and kneeling.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of criminal justice processes.
One year of experience answering a multiline phone and/or working in a call center environment.
Proficiency with Spillman law enforcement information network system, Supervised Release System Software (SRS), electronic monitoring proprietary software systems and related hardware, Computer Assisted Facility Security System, mapping software, GPS and RF electronic monitoring equipment, video surveillance systems, and Odyssey/JTAC.

Responsibilities

Monitor the activities of more than 500 Home Detention and Residential Services participants, document their whereabouts, and answer their questions.
Respond to radio-frequency and GPS electronic monitoring alerts and investigate discrepancies in participant whereabouts or equipment issues.
Serve as a contact for participants, employees, officers, law enforcement agencies, and others contacting Allen County Community Corrections, and document contacts.
Answer participant telephone lines and record leave and arrival times and locations in the electronic monitoring system.
Enter participant intake information into electronic monitoring, case management, and local law enforcement databases, and update information in all required databases.
Update databases when a participant moves, is remanded into custody, or is released successfully or unsuccessfully from electronic monitoring.
Install ankle transmitters, ensure equipment is operating properly, instruct participants in its use, and answer their questions.
Remove and inspect equipment upon discharge and ensure all equipment is returned and working properly.
Enter more than 500 participant schedules and scheduled events weekly into the electronic monitoring database.
Document and provide notifications when a participant moves, is hospitalized, has outside police contact, is released, or is otherwise removed from electronic monitoring.
Investigate and verify schedule discrepancies by contacting participants and/or case managers and updating electronic monitoring and case management databases.
Prepare, organize, and distribute paperwork submitted by participants.
Coordinate and perform victim notifications required by local or state legislation and ensure compliance with published legislative and legal updates.
Assist in training new staff in the absence of supervisors.
Assist Monitoring and Communications Specialists and other divisions with clerical work or special projects as needed.
Perform other assigned duties, including overtime as required.
Use evidence-based practices in interactions with participants and in developing department programs, model pro-social behavior, and complete required Correctional EBP training and competency requirements.