Standards Specialist
About The Position
The New York City Board of Correction seeks a Standards Specialist, also referred to as a Monitor, to help enforce the Board’s Minimum Standards and carry out its oversight responsibilities. Monitors serve as the Board’s and the City’s “eyes and ears” in jails on Rikers Island, court pens, and hospital prison wards. Monitoring staff have unfettered access to jails to promote compliance with the Minimum Standards. The Monitor works with administration, monitoring, legal, and research staff, under the supervision of an assigned Director. The role involves oversight of correctional conditions and compliance, investigations and analysis, reporting, complaint resolution, and technical assistance. This position is subject to funding availability and continued funding, and appointments are subject to Office of Management & Budget approval for budgeted headcount.
Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of full-time paid experience in correction, social work, psychology, law, public administration, or a related field providing direct services to an inmate or detention population within a correctional or related facility; or a high school diploma or equivalent and four years of such experience; or equivalent education and/or experience.
- At least one year of full-time paid experience providing direct services to an inmate or detention population within a correctional or related facility is required under the education/experience equivalency pathway.
- A graduate degree in social work, psychology, law, criminal justice, or public administration that includes a related field placement may substitute for up to one year of the required full-time paid experience.
- Service as an inmate in a correctional or related facility may substitute for a portion of required experience, up to two years on a year-for-year basis.
- Strong writing, organizational, and time-management skills, with attention to detail.
- Ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and communicate findings in reports.
- Knowledge of and experience with statistical analysis.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse colleagues and partners, work independently and as part of a team, and handle sensitive information with discretion and integrity.
- Commitment to the mission of the New York City Board of Correction.
Nice To Haves
- Collegial approach to teamwork across disciplines.
- Master’s degree in a social science discipline, public policy, or related field.
- At least three years of government, nonprofit, or comparable experience.
- Experience at a regulatory agency or advocating before a regulatory agency.
- Interest in and experience with criminal justice and correctional policy, human rights, or social justice.
- Working knowledge of New York City jails and corrections.
- Bilingual ability, such as Spanish.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Tenacity as a fact finder.
Responsibilities
- Conduct regular tours of assigned jails, court pens, and hospital prison wards.
- Provide written and oral reports on conditions and Minimum Standards at assigned jails, courts, or hospital wards.
- Enforce the Minimum Standards by visiting jails and taking and resolving complaints from staff and people in custody.
- Examine DOC’s compliance with the Minimum Standards, consent decrees, other legal mandates, and departmental policies, procedures, orders, and directives.
- Analyze Correctional Health Services’ compliance with the Health and Mental Health Care Minimum Standards.
- Prepare written reports on investigations, surveys, and analyses.
- Provide technical assistance to DOC administrators to achieve compliance and improve working and living conditions for staff and people in custody.
- Conduct fact-finding and investigations of unusual incidents, such as deaths, disturbances, and escapes, and prepare related reports, studies, surveys, and correspondence.
- Help review and analyze requests from DOC and CHS for variances from the Minimum Standards.
- Assist in processing, evaluating, and preparing responses to appeals from people in custody concerning the Minimum Standards.
Benefits
- Potential eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
