JAIL INSPECTION/INVESTIGATION OFFICER, J54

BASIC PURPOSE:

Positions in this job family are involved in investigative type work involving the inspection and investigation of city and county jails to determine compliance with state standards and providing consultation and assistance to facility administrators and officials in keeping facilities within prescribed standards.  This includes the areas of admission, orientation and release procedures, prisoner records, security and prisoner control, rules and discipline, supervision of prisoners, prisoner classification and segregation policies, sanitary and hygienic conditions, training of staff, physical facilities, medical care and health services and food service and dietary requirements and other similar activities.

TYPICAL FUNCTIONS:

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

• Plans, coordinates, schedules and conducts inspections and investigations of city and county jails and Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities to determine compliance with state jail standards and statutes.
• Prepares and submits reports and records to appropriate officials on each facility inspected, investigated or assisted; maintains records, reports and suspense files pertaining to all jail inspection/investigation activities.
• Provides consultative assistance to jail officials in problem areas with follow-up inspections as needed to ensure compliance; coordinates with state, county and city officials on any other jail problems.
• Provides technical assistance to jail administrators, architects, and other appropriate officials concerning standards and requirements for jail facilities construction, remodeling, and operations and maintenance.
• Assists jail officials in planning and determining operational needs for meeting standards; assists in the training of jail administrators, operators, and detention officers.
• Conducts death and complaint investigations pertaining to inmates and prepares appropriate reports of findings and actions taken and complaint investigations.
• Reviews inspection reports submitted by the State Fire Marshal’s office to determine compliance with fire and safety standards.
• Reviews medical charts as necessary.
• Serves as an expert witness in court cases and testifies as regular witness of findings.
• Assists in investigations conducted by other professional groups and agencies such as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
• Consults with the Office of Juvenile Affairs on juvenile correctional facility management and operation.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:

The Jail Inspection/Investigation Officer Job Family consists of three levels that are distinguished by the complexity of assignments, the level of expertise required to perform the assigned duties, and the responsibility assigned for providing leadership to others.

Level I                                     Code:  J54A                             Salary Band:  I

This is the basic level of this job family where employees are primarily responsible for performing routine entry level work in a training status to build their skills in inspecting and investigating county and city jails to determine compliance with state standards.  In this role they will perform tasks involving coordination and consultation with state, county and city officials and providing assistance to jail administrators and other appropriate officials concerning standards and requirements for jail facility operations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of principles of conducting interviews; of basic investigation and inspection methods and techniques; of the methods and policies of investigations of suicides and mortalities; of technical report writing methods and standards; of state and federal correctional laws; of Oklahoma Department of Corrections policies and procedures; of American Correctional Association standards for correctional facilities; of American Correctional Association accreditation policies and procedures; of Oklahoma State Fire Safety

Codes; of medical charts and medications prescribed for different diseases and illnesses.  Ability is required to provide consultation services to local sheriff’s departments, other law enforcement personnel, and city and county officers on the construction, operation, and maintenance of correctional facilities; to read blueprints; to follow established inspection procedures; to tactfully point out deficiencies and recommend solutions; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement, public health, hospital or public administration, behavioral or environmental science; or a bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum of thirty semester hours in any combination of physical, natural, or biological sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of experience in a correctional facility certification or accreditation program or other professional employment that included correctional, law enforcement, public health, or environmental health inspection, investigation, or administration experience for each year of the required education.

Level II                                                Code:  J54B                             Salary Band:  J

This is the career level of this job family where employees are assigned duties and responsibilities at the full-performance level and perform a variety of tasks involving the inspection and investigation of county and city jails to determine compliance with state standards, providing consultation and assistance to facility administrators and officials in keeping facilities within prescribed standards and assisting in on-the-job training of other jail inspection/investigation officers.  At this level, limited guidance and training may be provided to entry-level employees performing inspection/investigation work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I, plus more detailed and in depth knowledge of jail facility administrative and operating procedures; of jail standards and their applicability to various types of facilities; and of proper investigative techniques for detention facility complaints.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist those identified in Level I, plus one additional year of jail inspection experience.

Level III                                   Code:  J54C                             Salary Band:  L

This is the leadership level of this job family where employees are assigned responsibility for coordinating and supervising the field activities for a jail facilities inspection unit and assisting in developing, implementing and evaluating program services.  This includes responsibility for planning, scheduling and controlling required inspection activities, and preparing or reviewing required reports.  Positions may be assigned supervision of other Jail Inspection/Investigation Officers which includes responsibilities for reviewing and assigning work, providing training, evaluating performance, employee development, approving leave and initiating disciplinary actions, as well as performing other administrative functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level II, plus knowledge of administrative principles and practices; of budgetary procedures; and of supervisory principles and practices.  Ability is required to direct the work of inspectors.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II and two additional years of jail inspection experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel normally associated with this position.

Applicants must be willing and able to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.