CORRECTIONAL PROBATION SPECIALIST

Correctional Probation Specialist - 70007771

The incumbent in this position is responsible for supervising, surveilling and maintaining a specialized caseload consisting of extremely high-risk offenders, sex offenders, or a combination of the above. Many of these offenders have diagnosed severe mental health conditions. The incumbent may also perform duties relating to training.

Encourages and fosters offender compliance with the supervision order through guidance and goal-setting, monitoring of offender behavior and supervision in the community. Conducts field and office supervision visits via personal contact, collateral/community contacts, surveillance contacts, telephone contacts and electronic methods to ensure compliance with conditions of supervision, to promote public safety and to provide assistance to offenders as appropriate.

Conducts pre-sentence, post-sentence, interstate compact, sentencing guidelines, and other required investigations on offenders. Makes recommendations on offenders under supervision or pending disposition to the sentencing authority regarding continued supervision, revocation, diversion and incarceration.

Conducts background investigations on prospective employees. Demonstrates sensitivity to public and victim needs, concerns and complaints and takes appropriate, prompt action as required to ensure early identification and intervention for offenders involved in physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment.

Conducts victim interviews and makes treatment referrals for offenders, victims, and their families. Conducts searches and makes arrests of offenders. Responds to collateral inquiries in connection with offenders, their relatives or any affected parties. Provides investigative and intelligence assistance to local and state law enforcement agencies in the development of offender profiles, as it relates to pedophilia and child pornography.

Enforces compliance with Florida statutes as they pertain to the registration of sex offenders and sexual predators. Enforces Florida statutes as they pertain to the supervision of sex offenders, including, but not limited to scheduling polygraph examinations using qualified examiners, reviewing polygraph results to enhance supervision and to alert to potential areas of concern, monitoring offender driving logs to verify compliance with driving restrictions, enforcing prohibition against obtaining or using a post office box, referring offenders for HIV testing if sexual contact occurred, monitoring offender activities for compliance with curfew restrictions and making recommendations for offenders to wear a monitoring device if deemed necessary.

Monitors offender's residence plan for compliance with prohibition against residing within 1000 feet of a school, daycare center, park, playground, or any place where children regularly congregate, if the victim was under 18 years of age. Enforces prohibitions on victim contact and unsupervised, unauthorized contact with children, in compliance with the sentencing authority order. Monitors offender's employment plan to prohibit working for pay or as a volunteer at any school, daycare center, park, playground, or other place where children regularly congregate. Enforces prohibition on the viewing or possession of pornographic or sexually stimulating visual or auditory material, including telephone, computer, and electronic media. Enforces requirement for submission of blood specimens to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for inclusion in the DNA database.

Assesses and/or assists in assessing and identifying offender needs, treatment options and supervision objectives and refers offenders as appropriate to qualified therapists who adhere to accepted practices for the treatment of sex offenders. Establishes and records structured treatment programs and other programs designed to enhance offender self-improvement in areas of education, psychological counseling, social services, health education, vocational training, substance abuse and other areas of need and ensures adherence to these plans.

Utilizes information management system to develop offender payment plans for all monetary obligations ordered by the sentencing or releasing authority and enforces offender compliance with the payment plan. Maintains case records, in both electronic and hard copy, documenting the status of offender background, legal history, treatment and progress of the offender under supervision. Takes digitized photographs of offenders for placement on web site. Exhibits appropriate demeanor and knowledge as a representative of the Department of Corrections. Attends hearings or appears as a witness in any proceedings before a sentencing or releasing authority making determinations regarding offenders under supervision. Reports non-compliance with order of supervision to sentencing or releasing authority and prepares violation and other required reports, forwarding them to appropriate sentencing or releasing authority in compliance with prescribed deadlines.

Maintains liaison with the judiciary, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, treatment providers, non-profit service agencies, governmental agencies, other facilities, offices and bureaus of the department and other criminal justice representatives. Develops partnerships with local law enforcement to foster public safety. Conducts individual and group counseling of an informal and formal nature for offenders as needed. Interviews offenders to obtain information relating to supervision or investigation. Monitors and tests offenders for the use of controlled substances and alcohol as directed by the sentencing or releasing authority or as necessary for the protection of the community. Develops and maintains contact with resources suitable for placement of offenders in public service assignments as directed by the sentencing or releasing authority. Handles administrative duties and assists supervisors in supervisor's absence as assigned. Serves on teams or committees and task forces to study issues, solve problems, refine existing practices, develop new programs or procedures or implement new policies. Attends and delivers training relating to the duties and responsibilities of the job and for career development. May act as the day-to-day training officer for a correctional probation officer.

Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work. Ability to interview and counsel. Ability to review and analyze data. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to work independently and/or under stressful conditions. Knowledge of principles of probation and parole and/or corrections work, and Florida law and rules of Criminal Procedures. Knowledge of techniques for advising, interviewing, and counseling. Ability to review and analyze data. Skill in utilizing an offender database system. Ability to manage offenders. Ability to prepare a variety of reports. Ability to assist offenders in solving problems. Ability to conduct investigations. Ability to describe facts and events accurately. Ability to conduct investigations. Ability to understand and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Certified in accordance with Florida Statutes 943.13 Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university All employees in the correctional probation officer classes shall be required to possess a valid driver's license as a condition of employment in accordance with 33-208.402, Florida Administrative Code and Section 322.03(3) Florida Statutes.