Is your goal to be a Community Parole Officer?
Do you have the passion to invest in an exciting career?
This is a unique recruitment for a Parole Trainee. Individuals selected for this position will gain experience and training toward the target class of Community Parole Officer.
This position is eligible for Flex Scheduling and Flexplace Work Arrangements after completion of the POST academy and initiation period.
The selected candidate will be responsible for providing their own lodging and meal accommodations for the duration of the POST academy.
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and pass the first phase of the background check, you will be invited to attend the Find your Future: Application Blitz event on June 17th, 2024 located at the Westminster Parole Office, 8800 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO 80031.
Work Location: This recruitment will be used to fill positions in the Denver Metro area. No other locations will be considered. The eligibility list created from this recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies in this area.
Who can apply: This position is open to Colorado state residents.
Hiring Rate: Although the entire salary range is provided, Parole Trainees are hired at the range minimum, which is $3,484/month.
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.
In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:
Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans;
Medical and dental health plans;
Short and long term disability coverage;
Paid life insurance;
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
Wellness program, tuition reimbursem*nt, training opportunities and more.
Description of Job
The Division of Parole exists to manage and supervise offenders on a 24 hour per day, seven day per week, 365 day per year basis to provide public safety and opportunities for successful re-entry of offenders returning to the community. Re-entry support services collaborate with this setting. The unit ensures compliance with federal and state statutes, CDOC regulations, Parole Board conditions and agreements, Code of Penal Discipline, community corrections standards, Interstate Compact rules and regulations and other established rules/standards for the supervision of offenders.
This is a trainee position and the individual appointed will receive on-the-job training and attend formal courses designed to develop the characteristics for the targeted class of Community Parole Officer.
Under direction and supervision, the primary duties and responsibilities will be as follows:
The work location will be in the community, working in the field, and may involve the following activities:
- Field work (e.g. pre-release plan investigation, home visitation, job verification, parole violation investigation);
- Apply evidence-based assessment, case planning and supervision techniques, set by policy and standards of practice, under the supervision of a team leader or supervisor;
- Direct the assessment and supervision plan of community-based offenders through the analysis of case material and interviews to update the Colorado Transition Accountability Plan (CTAP) by incorporating community supervision conditions and updating the offender’s goals;
- Monitor offender compliance and progress by overseeing employment, drug treatment and screening, restitution payments, residential status, and specialized treatment programs consistent with the community supervision plan and division contact standards and escort to specific activities, if needed;
- Interact with offenders and use motivational interviewing and other evidence based practices to reinforce pro-social behavior and assist offenders in developing effective problem solving skills and attaining goals;
- Provide crisis intervention, personal counseling and guidance to offenders in resolving interpersonal, familial and financial problems to enhance offender success and better ensure public safety;
- Respond to offender non-compliant behavior by investigating violations, and imposing appropriate sanctions consistent with the Colorado Violation Decision Making Process (CVDMP) or community violation matrix, most of which are managed in the community and do not require arrest;
- Present case information for a variety of evidentiary hearings to include COPD (Code of Penal Discipline) hearings, Parole revocation hearings, YOS (Youthful Offender System) revocation proceedings, and Interstate Compact probable cause hearings as well as serving as a hearing officer for COPDs conducted on residential and CRCF (Community Return to Custody Facility) offenders in compliance with due process standards;
- Attend training and develop skills in evidence based supervision techniques to include motivational interviewing, assessment and case planning, and cognitive behavioral interventions;
- Maintain proficiency in the use of firearms, arrest control techniques, CPR, and first aid;
- Maintain a thorough understanding of use of force compliance with certification according to State Statue and CDOC policy;
- Perform other job related duties as assigned or required.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
#1) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, business administration, public administration, management, social science, social work, counseling, labor and industrial relations, or a closely related field. ((Applicants must upload a copy of your unofficial college transcripts that include your name, college name, degree and date conferred with your application, in order to receive credit).
– OR –
#2) *Professional level related work experience in the area of counseling, social work, **corrections and/or law enforcement, which provided the same kind, amount, and level of knowledge acquired in the required education, will substitute on a year-for-year basis for the bachelor’s degree. (Part-time experience will be pro-rated).
– OR –
#3) A combination of coursework listed in #1 above and professional work experience listed in #2 above, which totals at least four (4) years.
Applicants must meet ONLY one of the minimum qualifications listed above to be considered. If selected for this position, a detailed training plan will be available which discusses the trainee position requirements to include:
Individuals appointed to a Parole Trainee position will be sponsored by the Colorado Department of Corrections to enroll and must successfully complete a Basic Law Enforcement Academy (or refresher course if eligible to regain certification) and obtain Peace Officer Standard Training (POST) certification after hire. The employee will be responsible for paying the entire cost of training upon enrollment, which is approximately $8,000-$10,000. After successful POST certification with a grade of “B” or better, the employee will be reimbursed up to $10,000 of his/her tuition and will qualify for the target class of Community Parole Officer (CPO). The current base CPO pay for the Department of Corrections is $5,279/month. The website for information regarding POST is http://www.coloradopost.gov/.
Necessary Special Requirements:
- Must currently possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Must be at least 21 years of age; and have no felony convictions or domestic violence history.
- Must be willing and able to enroll in a Basic Law Enforcement Academy and pass all classes/courses to obtain POST certification.
- Must be willing to commit a minimum of two years to the Division of Parole with a signed agreement.
- Position will be required to successfully pass a background check to include a Psychological Evaluation.
- Position will be required to be armed at all times (after certification) in the field and in the office when having offender contact.
- Position will require travel, shift work, on-call and call-back status.
NOTE: A current, valid Colorado Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) Certification is required for entry into the targeted classification of Community Parole Officer.
Substitutions:
Degrees in a non-related field of study may substitute for up to 60 semester hours of core coursework on a year for year basis toward the four year requirement.
A master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in a field mentioned above will substitute for the bachelor’s degree.
*Professional experience is defined as work that involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and application and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications and methods.
**Corrections-related experience is defined as experience in which the employee provided a direct service to/with clients detained against their will such as custody/control, teaching, social work, nursing, food service, and general maintenance; or supervised offenders in the implementation of a program such as correctional industries. This experience is not typically earned in clerical support programs.
Required Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal/customer service skills focusing on respectful interaction;
- Ability to self-motivate and take initiative;
- Ability to balance public safety with re-entry goals;
- Ability to organize, plan and prioritize work;
- Strong computer skills with the ability to adapt to advances in technology;
- Effective written and oral communication skills with the ability to reach a variety of audiences;
- Ability to communicate important information and verbally summarize incidents;
- Ability to make decisions and think critically to solve problems;
- Ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility;
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and collaborate with others;
- Ability to work with a high risk/high need population;
- Ability to work with a diverse population;
- Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
- Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.
Preferred Qualifications: (Candidates may receive higher rating for possessing any preferred qualifications criteria).
- Experience as an offender advocate to help offenders reintegrate successfully into society;
- Knowledge of law enforcement, corrections, parole, or probation operations, or case management;
- Experience with community supervision as an alternative to incarceration;
- Experience working in a correctional or community supervision environment;
- Broad knowledge of social perceptiveness, human behavior, attitudes, motivation and its applicability in the rehabilitation of offenders;
- Experience working with hard to serve, high need, or high risk clients;
- Experience with case planning and includes setting goals and objectives;
- Knowledge of Evidence Based Practices and Interventions for the successful re-entry of offenders;
- Experience with Motivational Interviewing;
- Relevant year of State of Colorado experience.
