Correctional
case manager
BASIC PURPOSE:
Positions
within this job family are assigned responsibilities involving providing
routine social casework in the classification and assignment of offenders
committed to a correctional institution or advanced social casework pertaining
to the re-entry of offenders into the community.
TYPICAL FUNCTIONS:
The
functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the
following:
·
Uses interview techniques and assessment instruments to
determine the offender’s security risks and programmatic needs; prepares case
history reports and recommends program assignments.
·
·
Reviews work and conduct records of all assigned offenders
to determine progress or necessity of changing assignments or security
classification; serves as a member of the classification unit for an assigned
caseload.
·
Advises offenders on personal problems, employment
resources, vocational skills, educational and training needs, family problems
and institutional adjustment.
·
Delivers programs to offenders which are designed to assist
in a successful re-entry into the community following release from
incarceration.
·
Assists with, or prepares reports such as parole summaries
or court ordered presentence investigations.
·
Receives and takes necessary action on incoming and outgoing
mail to or from assigned offenders.
·
Develops, monitors, and amends offender transition plans in
line with re-entry programs and services.
·
Establishes collaborative network with relevant partners to
provide support, pre and post release services for offenders which involve
family members and community resources and social service agencies.
LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:
The
Correctional Case Manager job family consists of four levels which are
distinguished based on the type and complexity of work, and the responsibility
assigned for the supervision of others.
This
is the basic level where incumbents perform entry-level routine case management
work, under close supervision, involving classification and assignment of
offenders committed to a correctional institution.
Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of vocational
guidance and social adjustment principles; of available institutional
industrial positions and the future market for those skills; of interviewing
and counseling techniques; and of the social and psychological problems facing
offenders. Ability is required to
establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to
communicate effectively; and to determine which segment of the facility will be
best suited to an offender’s social and correctional needs.
Education
and Experience requirements
at this level consist of a bachelor's degree including at least twenty-four
hours in any combination of psychology, sociology, social work, criminology,
education, criminal justice administration, penology or police science; or a
bachelor's degree and one year of experience in a correctional facility in a
position which requires direct and routine contact with inmates; an equivalent
combination of education and experience, substituting one year of experience in
a correctional facility in a position which requires direct contact with
inmates for each thirty semester hours of the required education.
This is the career level where
incumbents perform a full range of case management tasks involving the
classification and assignment of offenders committed to a correctional
institution. Incumbents at this level
are responsible for overseeing difficult advanced classification and counseling
cases.
Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I
plus the knowledge of the principles of personality development and
adjustments; and of the social structure of an offender population and
individual assimilation into it.
Education
and Experience requirements
at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree including at least twenty-four
hours in any combination of psychology, sociology, social work, criminology,
education, criminal justice administration, penology or police science and two
years of correctional records management or social casework which involved the
classification and assignment or field supervision of offenders or as a chief
of security in a community treatment center or in a professional administrative
position with responsibilities for maintaining inmate records, establishing
procedures or serving as assistant warden; substitution of a masters degree in
one of the fields of study listed above for one year only of the required
experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
substitution one year of the experience in a correctional facility in a
position which requires direct contact with inmates for each thirty hours of
the required education.
This
is the specialist level where incumbents are responsible for offender re-entry
case management functions to include; coordination of strategic social
casework; classification; development of transitional/intervention plans;
conducting and analyzing offender assessments; developing family and community
collaborative support teams, and providing service referrals and follow-up.
Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified at Level II
plus knowledge of related government laws and practices and of community
resources. Ability is required to motivate offenders in a positive,
constructive manner.
Education
and Experience requirements
at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree including at least twenty-four
hours in any combination of psychology, sociology, social work, criminology,
education, criminal justice administration, penology or police science and
three years of correctional records management or social casework which
involved the classification and assignment or field supervision of offenders or
as a chief of security in a community treatment center or in a professional
administrative position with responsibilities for maintaining inmate records,
establishing procedures or serving as assistant warden. Substitution of a
master’s degree in one of the fields of study listed above for one year only of
the required experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
substitution one year of the experience in a correctional facility in a
position which requires direct contact with inmates for each thirty semester
hours of the required education.
This
is the leadership level where incumbents supervise other case managers as well
as perform the more complex duties concerning the classification and
programmatic needs of offenders.
Knowledge,
Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified at Level III
plus knowledge of the principles and practices of effective supervision and
ability to supervise and direct the work of others.
Education
and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in
Level III plus one additional year of experience.
NOTE: No substitution will be allowed for the
required period of qualifying experience in a correctional records management
or social casework which involved the classification and assignment or field
supervision of offenders.