Correctional Program Specialist II - Anne Arundel County : Job Details

This position announcement will be used to fill a full-time, permanent, safety sensitive Correctional Program Specialist II vacancy at the Department of Detention Facilities with Anne Arundel County Government.

The Anne Arundel County Detention Facilities serve the citizens of Anne Arundel County by professionally managing safe and secure correctional facilities and offering programs and services to pretrial and convicted individuals which support successful re-entry to the community.

Please note - This position may require some weekend and/or holiday hours.

This is responsible corrections work in delivering programmatic services that provide classification, counseling and supervision services to inmates committed to the Department of Detention Facilities institutions or participating in community based programs to include work release, alternative sentence programs, or the pretrial services program.

• Perform duties related to the direct and indirect delivery of case management and programmatic services to inmates and/or program participants under general supervision.
• Conduct program intake interviews and assign classification ratings.
• Contact references and other agencies to gather social histories; participate in classification, reclassification, and status review board hearings.
• Develop, monitor and coordinate individualized program plans to maximize programming efficacy within facilities and post-release resource delivery to ensure a successful community transition.
• Conduct job and home site visits; testify in court hearings; participate in meetings with mid-level management and Center administration; establish appropriate horizontal and vertical lines of communications.
• Assist the Criminal Justice Program Supervisor in planning, directing and managing Detention Center programs for custody, security, welfare, programming and reintegration of inmates.
• Understand and apply facility policy and procedure to perform duties, including the submission and review of required reports.
• Address inmate needs using case management principles, routine tours of housing areas, maintaining regular office hours, and acting as an advocate to ensure needs are addressed and resolved.
• Complete required paperwork and reports, including program agreements, pre-release interviews, parole summaries, intake and entry conferences, reassessments and reclassification interviews, pretrial interviews, inmate request slips, job site checks, office visits, telephone calls and work status; maintain information in appropriate files.
• Review and approve classification reports completed by Correctional Program Specialist I.
• Assess inmates to determine interventions that could be provided through psychiatric evaluation, substance abuse services, academic training, or other remedial or support programs.
• Evaluate and assign inmates to work programs; interpret and verify information contained in court and legal documents.
• Routinely investigate inmates' concerns and resolve these using existing automated systems and resource manuals.
• Evaluate program efficiency and assist supervisors and managers in improving service delivery.
• Safe operation of a motor vehicle during daytime hours and in all types of weather for attending court hearings and conducting site visits.
• Work may require hours beyond the normal workday.

• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices in counseling individuals using case management principles.
• Ability to learn and apply modern and state-of-the-art corrections practices, methods, techniques, equipment, and program methodologies.
• Ability to operate motor vehicles.
• Ability to read, interpret, follow and enforce rules and regulations, written and/or instructions or orders.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with superiors and other employees, public and inmates.
• Ability to prepare standard reports and non-routine reports.
• Ability to understand and apply safety practices for inmates and visitors.
• Ability to assist in the planning of program operations.
• Ability to use sound judgment in the decision making process.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to meet selection standards promulgated by the County and Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.
• Ability to complete the Entry Level Training Program conducted by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Academy.
• Ability to complete annual training requirements established by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission and Department of Detention Facilities.

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in criminal justice, corrections, or the social sciences

• Two (2) or more years of experience in criminal justice.

• A minimum age of 18 at the time of appointment.
• A valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle operator's license.

• Two (2) or more years experience in criminal justice may be substituted with a combination of the following education and experience for a total of at least two (2) or more years: 1) graduate-level studies or masters degree; or 2) responsible work experience including internships and/or volunteering; or 3) experience conducting independent research, creating reports, coordinating information, or communications.
• Minimum age requirement is in accordance with Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission regulations.
• This position is safety sensitive and employees in this position are subject to Controlled Dangerous Substance and Alcohol testing.
• The selection process includes a comprehensive background investigation and medical and psychological evaluation.
• Accredited University or College is the recognition from an accrediting agency that an institution maintains a certain level of educational standards. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accrediting agencies it recognizes for schools within the United States. For a University or College outside the United States, the applicant must provide documentation of accreditation and educational equivalency, which can be accomplished through a credential evaluation service. Applicants with a foreign degree must provide this documentation upon the close of the announcement.
• Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following: experience evaluating clients to determine needs such as psychiatric evaluation, substance abuse services, academic, remedial and/or other support services; and experience beyond a beginner level with Microsoft Word and Excel.