CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR II (SPECIALIST)

Job Title

Under general direction, as a sworn essential public safety officer, either: (1) to conduct difficult program assignments within a special treatment unit of an institution; or (2) to conduct specialized program assignments as an Assistant Classification and Parole Representative, Inmate Appeal Coordinator, Inmate Work/Training Incentive Program Coordinator, or Prison Litigation Coordinator (Legal Liaison); to perform peace officer duties as required; and to do other related work.

Instructs and assists with in-service training programs; integrates casework services with activities of other disciplines represented on a clinic team in a diagnostic center; provides casework services to select inmates and serves as treatment consultant to the custodial staff in lock-up units; checks the compilation of case records to determine that policies and appropriate procedures are followed; follows up on specific classification recommendations; assists in the development of effective casework procedures; coordinates the work of the Department of Corrections and that of the law enforcement agencies and interested public and private agencies; performs special assignments and studies; conducts or directs individual and group psychotherapy and counseling sessions; consults with custodial, educational, and care and treatment staffs; makes recommendations to the Board of Prison Terms for parole and retention of inmates; performs peace officer duties which include maintaining order and supervising the conduct of inmates, maintaining the safety of public, staff, inmates and property while enforcing state and Federal laws, rules, and regulations, inspecting premises and searching inmates for contraband, and replacing and/or assisting custodial staff during emergency situations, such as fights, attempted escapes, or major incidents such as riots; utilizes de-escalation/communication/use of force techniques to defend the safety and security of a correctional institution; documents incidents per policy and procedures.

In addition to the above tasks, the following is performed by the specialty assignments: the Assistant Classification and Parole Representative coordinates hearings for the Board of Prison Terms, serves as a member of the classification and disciplinary committees, and supervises the official recording of the Board of Prison Terms; the Inmate Appeal Coordinator researches and investigates second-level inmate appeals and makes recommendations for response; the Inmate Work/Training Incentive Program Coordinator assists in achieving legislative and departmental mandates to provide full work/training assignments for inmates, audits and monitors the work incentive law, provides training to staff on all aspects of the work incentive law, and maintains records to show compliance; the Prison Litigation Coordinator (Legal Liaison) serves as the institution litigation specialist for noncriminal lawsuits filed by, or on behalf of inmates, including habeus corpus, tort and civil rights type cases filed in State and Federal courts.

Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s). CDCR employees are encouraged to use their existing CDCR email address on their application. Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application. Effective July 1, 2025, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented in response to the status of the State budget. PLP 2025 requires that each full-time employee receive a 3% reduction in pay in exchange for five (5) hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Posted salaries and ranges do not reflect the recent changes.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.