What are the responsibilities and job description for the Classification Officer position at Douglas County, Nebraska?
The Position
Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Corrections or designee gathering information (e.g. risk factors, incarceration history) on inmates determining proper classification, housing assignments, and program participation.
Essential Functions
Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Corrections or designee gathering information (e.g. risk factors, incarceration history) on inmates determining proper classification, housing assignments, and program participation.
Essential Functions
- Conduct intake interviews with new or rebooked inmates.
- Utilize established policies and procedures to accurately classify inmates ensuring correct placement in the facility.
- Conduct a background check on inmates, review intake assessment information, and determine proper classification, housing assignment, and program eligibility.
- Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
- Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
- Complete/maintain required documentation and information in inmates' classification files.
- Collect DNA samples as part of prisoner in-processing.
- Complete forms notifying pertinent agencies of expected residency upon offender release.
- Escort inmates throughout the Correctional Center.
- Generate/distribute documents and files for housing special management inmates.
- Conduct inmate follow-up interviews determining adjustments, reclassification, and/or status change.
- Update/maintain inmate records regarding reclassification/status changes.
- Adhere to department procedures, protocols, orders, etc.
- Write informational reports.
- Monitor any changes in state statutes and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards potentially impacting classification procedures, and inform administration of changes.
- Review/compute "good time" sentences and release dates conferring with the Classification Supervisor.
- Promote a positive and professional image of Douglas County government and the Corrections Department.
- Maintain knowledge and job skills (e.g. meetings, workshops, webinars, seminars, conferences).
- Assist in the training and orienting new employees.
- Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
- Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
- Perform other duties as assigned and/or directed.
- Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice or Public Administration required.*
- Two (2) years of experience in internal security, information gathering and investigation techniques in a correctional facility or comparable setting (e.g. law enforcement, military) required.*
- Direct experience involving the assessment and classification of inmates preferred.
- Two (2) years of experience using MSOffice required.
- Annual in-person instruction, online learning, and defensive tactics training required.
- Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and throughout employment required.
- Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen, physical assessment and medical exam required.
- *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.
- The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Work typically performed in an office setting in a correctional facility; however, schedule will vary (e.g. shifts, days, holidays, overtime, emergency call-ins). Noise level is usually moderate and occasionally loud. Work involves potential exposure to biohazards. Work may be stressful when dealing with multiple/changing priorities, time constraints, limited resources, and irate/abusive individuals.
- Work requires some physical activity including extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, reaching and frequent kneeling, bending, crouching, stooping, and climbing. Incumbents must have the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds. Incumbents may be required to physically engage inmates subduing and restraining. For safety, incumbents need to be physically fit and possess strength, endurance, agility and coordination for self-defense and inmate restraint.
- Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communications abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbents must also possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.