Probation Parole Sergeant

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree in behavioral science such as criminology psychology social work sociology or guidance counseling AND 3 years of experience in Probation and Parole.
• Equivalent work experience may be substituted for the educational requirement.
• Related work experience in the areas listed in subsection 1(b) may be substituted for educational requirements at the rate of 1 year of experience for 9 months formal education if approved by the department.
• All present employees are exempt from this requirement but are encouraged to further their education at the earliest opportunity.

PROBATION & PAROLE SERGEANT

BILLINGS PROBATION OFFICE

BILLINGS MT

MISSIONMontana Department of Corrections is creating a safer Montana through Accountability Rehabilitation and Empowerment. If you want to work making positive changes in the community the Montana Department of Corrections is the place for you!

JOB OVERVIEW Probation and Parole (P&P) is a Bureau within the Department of Corrections (DOC) and is responsible for the statewide supervision and rehabilitation of approximately 7500 adult felony offenders. Probation and Parole plays a vital role in managing the overall system. Probation and Parole is the only corrections program that:

• Has contact with or control of virtually every person convicted of a felony criminal violation
• This contact begins with a presentence investigation which may lead to a prison term and usually ends in subsequent release back into the community under supervision.

The Probation and Parole role in communities includes:

• Counseling coordinating treatment and rehabilitation services;
• Overseeing offenders to ensure public safety by successfully reintegrating the offender into society placements and intermediate sanctions.

Sergeants are also called upon to:

• Arrest detain violators and testify in district court information hearings relative to sentencing or revocation of clients probation or parole status.
• Officers are trained to handle situations if probation & parole offenders or inmates become hostile & pose a physical threat. This requires the use of Oleoresin Capsicum O.C. Spray and firearms and carrying handcuffs.
• May be called back to work at any hour of the day and an officer may need to physically make an arrest engage in forced entry and either employ or be in proximity of firearms or other dangerous weapons and access closed or hazardous areas.
• Must reside in area and be within a 30minute response time to the office.
• Work is of the nature that Public Safety Officers may work varying schedules to include nights and weekend hours and that the Officer may be called back to work at any hour of the day or night and be available 24/7 when called upon to assist any Department of Corrections Facility or Law Enforcement Agency. The Officer needs to physically make an arrest defend selves in highrisk volatile scenarios in and away from the office.
• Travel is required.

Personnel

• Interview hire train appraise reward/discipline advance/terminate employees;
• Complete performance evaluations on POs;
• Approve and submit time sheets.
• Provides guidance and direction to subordinates including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Provides coaching mentoring and discipline as needed to ensure professional growth of staff.
• Identifies developmental training needs of employees to assist in continued growth of knowledge and skills.
• Offer specific training programs to help staff maintain or improve job skills.
• Schedules and facilitates regular staff meetings with Probation and Parole staff.
• Reviews Reports of Violation written by Probation and Parole Officers prior to the report being submitted to the revoking authority.
• Oversees the issue of equipment for Probation and Parole staff including firearms and state vehicles.
• Oversees the evidence room and assist assigned Probation and Parole Officers on proper storage as per policy.
• Screens trains evaluates and supervises college interns/citizen volunteers and/or coordinates their internship/volunteer work with the assistance of Probation and Parole staff.
• Conducts regular case management audits as required per policy.

Program

• In the absence of the Captain Sergeants must perform all duties of the Captain
• Assists in the planning of Community Corrections Facilities Regional Prisons and Intensive Supervision Programs.
• May assist with screening for community placement of those offenders that are in a secure facility such as a regional prison. Supervises the Intensive Supervision Program as assigned. Authorizes the placement of DOC committed offenders.
• Coordinates and facilitates transfers of instate offenders when requested by another office. Assigns cases accordingly for offenders requesting to transfer their supervision. May serve as a liaison with various outside agencies including but not limited to; local law enforcement the Court system county jail Department of Health and Human Services and chemical dependency treatment providers
• Performs public relations duties as assigned including but not limited to: answering questions and complaints from the public speaking at public hearings and giving presentations to the public. Receives the itemized bills for jail costs of Department of Corrections residents/clients from County Sheriffs office. Reviews the claims for accuracy and preapproves for the Captain.

Administrative Hearings

Conduct Hearings that protect the public and ensures the rights of both male and female inmates parolees probationers and conditionally released offenders are adhered to through the impartial application of hearing procedures that incorporate all applicable due process rights. Ensures fair and consistent administrative hearings. Conducts Preliminary Onsite Hearings on parolees and interstate offenders to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that they have violated conditions of their release. Conducts Disciplinary Hearings on inmates who have been placed into a Community Corrections Center and on conditionally released offenders. Conducts disciplinary hearings held on TenDay Furlough inmates temporarily released from a secure facility or communitybased program and who have allegedly violated his/her tenday furlough program. Conducts Intervention Hearings on parolees probationers and conditional release offenders to determine conditions the offender is not complying with and to develop a formalcontract to achieve compliance. To include Sanctions offenders to custody and treatment. As they render their hearing disposition the offenders are placed in the most appropriate placement by the respective hearing officer.

Liaison Officer with the Community Corrections Centers

Acts as the liaison with the local Community Corrections Center which may include the mens and womens prerelease center the Connections Corrections Program the Treasure State Correctional Training Center the Missoula Assessment and Sanction Center the Billings Assessment and Sanction Center and the Warm Springs Addiction Treatment and Change Program. May assist the DOC Compliance Monitoring team to evaluate the Community Corrections Centers Personnel and Safety Policies ensuring compliance with Department of Corrections guidelines. Authorizes Center residents to travel outside the boundaries of the county for the Department of Corrections through weekly resident evaluations. Assists the Institutional Probation and Parole Officers when assigning cases and coordinating discharge planning and reentry of inmates being released from a secure facility or communitybased program. Serves as a member of the Community Corrections Center candidate screening committee by reviewing prison records for compliance with institution rules and regulations. Consults with Community Corrections Center staff and resident/clients regarding parole planning and parole screening. Completes initial signup for resident/clients paroling or discharging their sentences to locations outside the Probation and Parole district. Coordinates and oversees the conditional release process for those offenders who are in a Community Corrections Center and who are requesting release.

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER INFORMATION

This position requires POST Basic Certification after attending training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and successfully completing one year of employment with the Department of Corrections. In addition to the training and experience requirements to be POST Certified the successful candidate(s) must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States of America;
2. Be at least 18 years of age;
3. Be fingerprinted for a criminal history search;
4. Not have been convicted of a crime for which s/he could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary;
5. Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background screen;
6. Be a high school graduate or issued a GED or its equivalent; AND
7. Possess or be eligible for a valid Montana drivers license.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS Applications missing required documentation may not be considered.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• State of Montana Application
• Background screens which may include criminal records check child/patient/offender abuse registries and reference checks will be conducted for this position.
• If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.
• Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process please make sure all attachments are marked as RELEVANT.

BENEFITS

• Employment with the state may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under PSLF. Lookhereto learn more and see if you may qualify!

NOTICES

Brady Act & Lautenberg Amendment Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or is the subject of a court order of protection for an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)91. Candidates who have been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or were issued a court order of protection are not qualified for this position.

Prison Elimination Act of 2003 Any person who has been convicted of engaging in or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force overt or implied threats of force or coercion or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or any person who has been civilly or administratively adjusted to have engaged in the activity as described are not qualified for this position.

Tobacco Free Use of all tobacco products including smokeless tobacco products and tobacco substitutes in Department of Corrections buildings is prohibited.In secure care facilities possession of tobacco products is also prohibited.

The Montana Department of Corrections is anEOE/M/F/D/V/SO(Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority Female Disabled Veteran Sexual Orientation)