CDOC - Parole Officer Trainee (Northern Region)

Department Information

This State Service Professional Trainee II position is designed to provide a pathway to the Parole Officer position. As an SSPT, you must enter into and successfully complete a POST Academy and pass the POST certification test. There is additional paperwork to be completed, which you will receive if you are selected.

Upon completion of the academy and passing POST, you will be required to submit your POST certificate and apply for a Community Parole Officer position, once posted, within three business days. If you are not already a Department of Corrections employee, you will also attend theDepartment of Corrections basic trainingacademy. Once you are in aCommunity Parole Officer position, you will enter the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTO).

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.

The selected candidate will be responsible for providing their own lodging and meal accommodations for the duration of the POST academy.

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This recruitment will be used to fill positions in the Northern Region which includes Ft. Collins, Greeley and Longmont. No other locations will be considered. The eligibility list created from this recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies in this area.

This position is open to Colorado state residents.

Parole Officer Trainees are hired at $4,951/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. Member Contribution Rates. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits;

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 reimbursement, 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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree. (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 -

A combination of coursework and professional work experience in criminal justice, corrections, social work, counseling, which equals four (4) years.

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).

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;

Must be a resident of Colorado.

NOTE: A current, valid Colorado Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) Certification is required for entry into the targeted classification of Community Parole Officer.

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.

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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including language models, to create, write, or alter any portion of responses throughout any step of the assessment process may result in the disqualification of an applicant.

Be sure the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and “see resume” statements will not be accepted in lieu of the “Work Experience” section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.

Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.

If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.

If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.

In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records**

Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC’s consideration of application for employment.

Must be 21 years of age

Possess a valid driver’s license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards. Eligibility to drive a State-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria. Serious traffic violations, including DUIs or reckless driving, can disqualify drivers for up to seven years. All State Vehicles are monitored by telematics for safe operation and employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy while using an agency State Fleet vehicle.

Possess a high school diploma or GED

Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. . The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or