Parole Officer 20022498

About the Role

Guided by the agency's mission "To reduce recidivism among those we touch," the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is seeking a dedicated, security-minded professional to serve as a Parole Officer in the Division of Parole and Community Services, Parole Board, Allen County. The position will be headquartered at AOCI (Allen Correctional Institution).

Responsibilities

• Oversee offenders under general supervision, utilizing evidence-based supervision practices to facilitate behavioral change.
• Interview, visit, and observe offenders at residences, work sites, or other community locations.
• Obtain certification in the Ohio Risk Assessment System and complete offender risk assessments as directed.
• Develop case plans in conjunction with offenders to address identified risk factors, reviewing and maintaining these plans throughout the supervision period.
• Provide individual and group advice to offenders through listening, speaking, and providing written instructions.
• Conduct visual and auditory surveillance, including operating electronic monitoring equipment as needed.
• Perform drug testing by collecting and transporting specimens or using drug kit procedures, maintaining a written chain of evidence.
• Conduct DNA testing as prescribed by statute.
• Find employment and vocational opportunities for offenders by making referrals to community service agencies.
• Maintain contact with offender families, friends, employers, and others through interviews, observations, and document reviews.
• Develop sound caseload management, analyzing caseloads and making necessary community referrals.
• Oversee specialized caseloads requiring training to supervise substance abusers, drug offenders, sex offenders, special releasees, and special needs offenders.
• Conduct placement, arrest, and violation investigations by interviewing individuals and reviewing technical documents (medical, psychological, law enforcement, legal).
• Complete reports of investigations using a personal computer, writing, or dictating, to support decisions by judges, parole administrators, or parole board members.
• Update and use records through field officer tools (FOT), recording offender and officer activity.
• Travel to offender homes, places of employment, jails, courts, and other locations using a personal or state vehicle.
• Prepare information and initiate packets for Parole Board Hearings.
• Screen inmates for eligibility and make recommendations for transfer into the transitional control program.
• Respond in writing to inmate inquiries (e.g., kites).
• Conduct clemency and other investigations, completing reports for parole board decisions.
• Facilitate special hearings (e.g., clemency, full board) as needed.
• Complete and deliver written arrest, hold, release orders, search warrants, and subpoenas to jails, law enforcement, correctional, and court agencies.
• Pursue declared violators-at-large, arrest violators, and conduct search and seizure of contraband, which may involve physical activities (walking, running, climbing, bending, lifting) and the use of force (unarmed self-defense, restraining devices, OC spray/pepper gas).
• Develop and present cases at revocation hearings, including collecting evidence, organizing documents, examining witnesses, and testifying as required.
• Operate a personal or state vehicle to transport witnesses, violators, or other releases.
• Provide work direction and train staff through orientation, on-the-job training, and in-service training.
• Complete lesson plans and document training activities using a personal computer.
• Oversee an outpost office consisting of two to three less experienced staff as required.
• Complete background investigations on prospective employees.
• Develop working relationships with community agencies, citizen groups, and criminal justice agencies to secure resources for clients.
• Write or dictate speeches and presentations for authorized speaking engagements.
• Participate on community councils and committees.
• Coordinate with halfway houses and prevention programs at an inter-agency level.
• Act as a liaison with state hospitals to ensure appropriate services for clients.
• Present pre-release programs at penal institutions using written presentation guides or lesson plans.
• Travel to and participate in staff meetings, conferences, and training sessions.
• Maintain professional and law-abiding conduct in accordance with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Standards of Employee Conduct.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree from an accredited educational institution and 2 years of experience in criminal justice, corrections, law enforcement, social services, or a related field; or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution.
• No legal prohibition against carrying firearms.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must successfully pass the parole officer assessment or have completed it within the past 12 months; or be a current Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction employee previously certified as a parole officer.
• Probationary period of 365 days. Probationary parole officers may not transfer to a vacancy through the canvass process but may be reassigned by management within the same headquarter county.

Skills

• Criminology/Criminal Justice
• Organization
• Rehabilitation & Correction - Parole and Community Service
• Critical Thinking
• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication

Pay

$27.48 per hour.

Schedule

• Full-time
• 40 hours per week

Work Location

Division of Parole and Community Services (DPCS) in Allen County, headquartered at Allen Correctional Institution (AOCI) in Lima, Ohio.

Agency Overview

Guided by the mission "To reduce recidivism among those we touch," the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction believes everyone is capable of positive change. Staff embrace core values of dignity and respect, serving as role models for pro-social behavior. The agency focuses on front-line crime reduction through rehabilitative treatment, programming, and effective community supervision, aiming to help individuals turn away from crime and become productive members of society.