JOB TITLE: PAROLE HEARING OFFICER

JOB CODE: 46300

DEFINITION: This is quasi-judicial work in the adjudication of parole hearings and the conduct of parole interviews within the Parole Board.

An employee in this job serves as a representative of the Board and has responsibility within an assigned area for conducting parole hearings and interviews and rendering paroling recommendations and determinations in accordance with laws and policies governing disposition of such cases. Work involves reviewing summarizations of an offender's social and criminal history, institutional parole recommendations, classification summaries, and psychological and psychiatric reports to provide recommended paroling actions and conditions for parole. Work also involves reviewing arrest and violation reports and hearing cases to recommend the continuation, recommitment, or revocation of parole. Work includes making definitive findings involving probable cause at preliminary and detention hearings and a finding of preponderance at violation and revocation hearings. Work may involve supervision of support staff. Work is performed within a broad framework of laws, regulations, and policies and is subject to general review by the Deputy Chief Parole Hearing Officer or the Chief Parole Hearing Officer through conferences and evaluation of reports, recommendations, and decisions.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Note: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Interviews, either alone or in a panel, nonviolent and violent offenders eligible for parole in state and county correctional facilities.

• Rules on all objections brought by the attorney or parole agent on evidence submitted at a hearing.

• Conducts parole hearings in accordance with established procedures and ensures that all matters of fact are contained within hearing records.

• Clarifies evidence presented at hearings through questioning of offenders, legal counsel, and witnesses.

• Determines the necessity and appropriateness of victim and witness attendance at hearings.

• Hears testimony from crime victims concerning the initial impact and the continuing effects of the crime and their feelings regarding release of an inmate on parole, and prepares a summary report which is included in the material reviewed at the time of the parole release decision making.

• Recommends to the Board the types of community, institutional, social, and economic resources available for offender treatment, such as drug and alcohol agencies or county boards of assistance for treatment needs, and state hospitals for mental illness.

• Reviews offender case files, criminal histories, previous paroling actions, classification reports, and mental health reports to determine conditions of parole.

• Determines whether to parole certain non-violent offenders and provides a vote to parole all other cases which are then presented to the Board for a second vote.

• Performs the full range of supervisory functions.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior, with special emphasis on behavior deviations of persons who have been involved in delinquent or criminal activities.

• Knowledge of the criminal and civil justice system, with emphasis on the penal, correctional, and rehabilitation programs for delinquent and criminal individuals.

• Knowledge of interviewing procedures and techniques.

• Ability to analyze and interpret evidence presented at a hearing.

• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These are not used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of administrative law procedures with emphasis on procedure, hearing etiquette, and facilitation.

• Ability to evaluate and analyze all evidence presented at a hearing to obtain a clear, concise concept of the issues involved.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Six years of professional experience in parole, probation, criminal justice, or social work dealing with persons involved in criminal or delinquent activities, or programs concerned with such individuals; and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, or a closely related field;

or

• Six years of professional experience in parole, probation, criminal justice, or social work dealing with persons involved in criminal or delinquent activities, or programs

concerned with such individuals; and four years of paraprofessional experience in criminal justice or social work;

or

• Graduation with a law degree from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and three years of professional legal experience as an attorney;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.