Parole/Post Release Hearing Officer

State of North Carolina • Wake Forest, NC

2d

About The Position

The NC Department of Adult Correction is one of the largest state agencies with more than 14,000 employees. It is responsible for safeguarding and preserving lives and property through prevention, protection, and preparation as well as the care, custody, and supervision of all adults sentenced for violating North Carolina laws. This department includes state prisons with custody, healthcare, and facility operations staff as well as probation/parole officers who supervised sentenced people in the community. Other divisions include Administration, Health Services, Rehabilitation & Reentry, Special Operations and the Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission. We have a mission that matters! The Department of Adult Correction, Division of Community Supervision has an exciting opportunity for full-time Parole/Post-release Hearing Officers. This positing is for multiple vacancies. This position conducts preliminary hearings in parole and post- release cases to determine whether probable cause exists that the post release/parolee violated any conditions. Offenders convicted in another state that make application for transfer of supervision to North Carolina through the Interstate Compact Agreement are subject to the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision rules which are federal law. Pursuant to the rules, when the supervising state alleges violations exist and the state of conviction issues a warrant for the offender's arrest, upon detainment, the only hearing afforded to the offender is a probable cause hearing. As a highly visible employee of Community Supervision, the Hearing Officer must conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times. The Hearing Officer is an extension of the Post-Release and Parole Commission when rendering decisions. As a liaison between the jails, prisons, and Community Supervision, the Hearing Officer must stay informed of all available programs, sanctions, policies and community strategies. The Hearing Officer will consider pros and cons and consider alternatives before making decisions or rendering judgments. This position is "home as duty station" and requires daily travel and possible overnight travel, using a state-owned vehicle. All preliminary hearings are conducted at a prison facility, or in a city or county jail. Hearings are held reasonably near the place of the alleged violation or arrest and within seven working days of the arrest. The Hearing Officer's schedule is established by the Notice of Arrest Worksheet received by the Parole/Post-Release Supervision Office. Hearing assignments will be made based on availability, priority, and proximity to hearing location. At the conclusion of the Preliminary Hearing, the Hearing Officer will consider, weigh and analyze the evidence and testimony in a fair and impartial manner and render a conclusion and disposition. The Hearing Officer must be able to endure potential verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views and opinions of offenders and other people encountered in an antagonistic environment. The Hearing Officer must be able to maintain a calm, professional, and rational composure when dealing with difficult situations and individuals, and the ability to remain focused on the task at hand. Effective time management and organizational skills are required in this position, as well as the ability to establish an appropriate course of action to ensure completion of assigned duties within a given time frame. The Hearing Officer must obtain a Notary Public commission. This is a full-time positions (40 hours per week) with State Benefits. This is not a Law Enforcement Certified position (non-LEORS contributing position) nor is it subject to the Step Pay Plan for Probation/Parole Officers.

Requirements

• Documented experience holding positions requiring attention to detail and accuracy, in both written and verbal communication.
• Thorough knowledge of Community Supervision strategies, goals, objectives, policies and alternatives to incarceration
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of Structured Sentencing/Post-Release
• Considerable knowledge of North Carolina General Statutes, especially those relating to Preliminary Hearing issues, Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission and the Section of Prisons, and due process procedures
• Documented experience conducting administrative hearings and analyzing evidence representing opposing viewpoints
• Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience as a probation/parole officer; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• The Hearing Officer must be able to endure potential verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views and opinions of offenders and other people encountered in an antagonistic environment.
• The Hearing Officer must be able to maintain a calm, professional, and rational composure when dealing with difficult situations and individuals, and the ability to remain focused on the task at hand.
• Effective time management and organizational skills are required in this position, as well as the ability to establish an appropriate course of action to ensure completion of assigned duties within a given time frame.
• The Hearing Officer must obtain a Notary Public commission.

Responsibilities

• This position conducts preliminary hearings in parole and post- release cases to determine whether probable cause exists that the post release/parolee violated any conditions.
• Position is responsible for completing documentation of the hearing and transmitting the documentation to the North Carolina Interstate Compact Office within the specified time frame.
• This position is responsible for serving Notices of Commission Hearings on parolee and post-releasees.

Benefits

• Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.

What This Job Offers

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