JOB TITLE: DEPUTY CHIEF PAROLE HEARING OFFICER

JOB CODE: 46305

DEFINITION: This is quasi-judicial work assisting the Chief Parole Hearing Officer in the management and oversight of the commonwealth-wide parole hearing process.

An employee in this job oversees the parole interview and hearing process and assists in sustaining the conformity of the parole hearing process in accordance with the Prison and Parole Code and other applicable doctrine. Work involves overseeing Parole Hearing Officers by establishing goals and providing technical direction related to the hearing process; developing and administering comprehensive staff training; exercising leadership in coordinating the activities of Parole Hearing Officers to ensure staffing requirements are met; assessing the overall parole hearing process in order to ensure current Board policies and procedures are in keeping with best business practices; and assisting in the development and implementation of Board policies and procedures affecting the administration of interviews and hearings. Work also includes conducting parole interviews and hearings; providing guidance to institutional staff regarding the parole hearing process; monitoring Parole Hearing Officers’ performance; and attending Board or senior staff meetings on behalf of the Chief Parole Hearing Officer. Work is performed independently within a broad framework of case law, administrative directives, regulations, and Board policies. Supervision is provided by the Chief Parole Hearing Officer through periodic review of work conformance with established laws, policies, procedures, and program effectiveness.

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.)

• Assists the Chief Parole Hearing Officer in creating and providing trainings for Parole Hearing Officers and other assigned staff statewide in conformity with the Prison and Parole Code and Board policies and procedures.

• Advises the Chief Parole Hearing Officer on the performance of Parole Hearing Officers based on existing policies, procedures, performance standards, and any collected data.

• Reviews, modifies, and creates procedures, policies, reports, and forms for adoption by senior staff and the Board that affect the parole interview and hearing processes.

• Attends Board meetings and senior staff meetings when the Chief Parole Hearing Officer is unavailable.

• Meets with prison staff at state correctional institutions, county jails, and community corrections centers to discuss and evaluate the interview and hearing process that occurs at that facility.

• Conducts parole hearings and interviews, including cases within the Federal Witness Protection Program, with inmates/parolees at state correctional institutions, county jails, and community corrections centers, in the absence of Parole Hearing Officers.

• Reviews hearing reports and audio recordings of hearings from Parole Hearing Officers as needed to determine whether the hearing process is being administered in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Compiles, tracks, organizes, and analyzes data on parole interviews and hearings to determine any areas of need and provides reports on this information to the Chief Parole Hearing Officer.

• Meets with Parole Hearing Officers as a group or individually to provide guidance and training on the review of reports, procedures, new court decisions, and other information relevant to the parole violation hearing process.

• Reviews data to ensure that all staffing needs for parole interviews and hearings can be met and that the work is being distributed as equitably as possible among the Parole Hearing Officers.

• Remains current on all applicable statutes, regulations, case law, and legal opinions to the extent that they affect conducting or making decisions on parole interviews and hearings.

• Travels to various state and county correctional institutions, community corrections centers, and other Board offices as necessary to conduct parole interviews and hearings, and to observe and evaluate operations.

• Receives and reviews input from crime victims either in person or by video.

• Assists the Chief Parole Hearing Officer with various projects and program development initiatives.

• Performs the full range of supervisory functions.

• The 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 regulations, policies, procedures, and laws.

• 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.

• Ability to evaluate reports by parole hearing officers for their compliance with legal time limits and quality of judgments and recommendations.

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

• One year as a Parole Hearing Officer (commonwealth title);

or

• Seven 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

• Seven 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 four years of professional experience in parole, probation, or criminal justice dealing with persons involved in criminal activity or delinquent activities or programs concerned with such individuals;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.