Probation Parole Field Specialist

Description of Work

Internal Posting: This position is only open to current Department of Adult Correction's employees and employees with active RIF rights.

This is professional work performed as an Officer of the Court where the selected applicant will function as a lead Probation and Parole Officer with responsibility for training and supervising new Probation and Parole Officers within a district. Employees train other officers in the techniques of case management and the counseling of offenders with a wide variety of sanctions (such as split-sentence, electronic house arrest, substance abuse treatment).  Employees will train PPOs to conduct in-depth risk and needs assessments, develop case plans, identify when to use incentives and consequences and provide the court with recommendations regarding the offenders' suitability for community-based supervision, treatment, and sanctions. Work assignments include significant involvement in educating new PPOs on counseling and supervision of offenders, effective case management and judiciary practices and procedures.

The mission of Community Supervision is to protect the safety of citizens in communities throughout the state by providing viable alternatives and meaningful supervision to offenders on probation, parole, or post-release supervision.  The primary goal of Community Supervision is to reach an equal balance of control and treatment for offenders that will positively affect their behavior and lifestyle patterns.

Probation /parole officers protect the public safety by helping offenders learn to live within the law. They supervise offenders' activities in the community and ensure their compliance with court orders and sanctions.

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NC DAC) is responsible for safeguarding and preserving the lives and property of its residents through prevention, protection, and preparation.  We have a mission that matters!

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with benefits.

The salary grade for this position is NC08.  State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as or lower than their current position.

 If selected for this position, a new salary will be calculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability and internal equity.  Based on these factors, a pay increase or decrease may result.

Work requires the application of significant judgment and independence in training new PPOs for the district.

Employees work primarily with new hires in the field, but work locations also include office, court, Department of Adult Correction, and institutional facilities. Work requires ability to drive a vehicle for long hours, during day and night hours and in all types of weather. Employees will demonstrate and train new hires on effective offender contacts at the offender's home and/or workplace including warrantless searches which may be hostile or unsanitary.

Position will frequently be exposed to high crime, violence-prone areas which may include threats from the offenders, family members and the associates of the offenders who may be hostile, resistant, and violent. Violent interactions may result in bodily injury.

Under certain circumstances, employees may be required to restrain or use deadly force against offenders when performing their duties. Work requires working flexible hours to include days, nights and weekends, emergency response, and on-call availability and may require some overtime.

Position shall serve on the Electronic House Arrest Response Team (EHART) and serve on call when situations warrant.

Position shall carry a caseload when called to do so.

The Probation/Parole Field Specialist (FS) will report to the Judicial District Manager.

The incumbent shall have extensive knowledge of Structured Sentencing and how it applies to Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. The Field Specialist shall exhibit a working knowledge of local and regional community resources to address the placement of monitored offenders.

The position shall be knowledgeable of the available tools and sanctions that will target the offender's needs. The incumbent must be proficient with a variety of software applications to include OPUS, CSAS, ICOTS, FMS, and AOC in addition to MS Office applications in order to perform data entry and research regarding offenders.

Field Specialists must reside within 30 miles of the county of assignment within 90 days of their start date. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The incumbent must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with the trainee, Judiciary, offenders, and the general public to ensure thorough and appropriate collection, analysis and utilization of data to interpret Community Supervision's guidelines, policies and procedures. The position is frequently in court and will associate with judges, lawyers, District Attorneys, Clerk of Court, law enforcement, etc.

The incumbent shall always behave in a professional manner as they hold a highly visible position within the Section of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice and their actions will reflect upon the entire section.

The incumbent must possess exceptional time management and organizational skills and must be able to work under stressful situations.

The Field Specialist is responsible for planning the trainee's and their own daily work operations, setting priorities, scheduling, and establishing deadlines for the caseload.

This position must work as a member of a team in a variety of activities to include court intake.

If selected to interview, you will be expected to make a job-related training presentation to the interviewers.  Your presentation should be no longer than five (5) minutes.  You may select your own presentation, for example a Carey Guide or a Risk Needs Assessment Summary.

Selective Criteria: Must be a current North Carolina Probation/Parole Officer with at least two years' experience.

Management prefers experience with structured worksheets to address the patterns leading to crime, response to non-compliance, use of incentives, individualized case planning, use of delegated authority, possess knowledge of the principles of EBP and current sentencing guidelines.

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience." If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, correctional services, psychology, social work, or other related human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience as a Probation/Parole Officer. There is no degree equivalency.

Necessary Special Qualifications:  Must be eligible for certification by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission.Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.  We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.

DAC uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

If applying for a position certified through the North Carolina Department of Justice-Criminal Justice Standards Division, refer to: https://ncdoj.gov/law-enforcement-training/criminal-justice/officer-certification-programs/correctional-and-probation-parole-officer-certification/

 for specific certification requirements.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information.  Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses.

  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.  Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit.   Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.        If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.

• If applying for a position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division, click this link for specific certification requirements:  Correctional & Probation/Parole Officer Certification.

• The NC Dept. of Adult Correction must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape."  Click this link for information on hiring and promotion prohibition requirements for all positions in the NC Dept. of Adult Correction: PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions.

• Per NC General Statute 143B-972.1, applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI's Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service ("RAP Back").  This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account and click "Application Status."  If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.

For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Community Supervision at (828) 251-6184.