Corrections Specialist 2 - PREA

Description

Duties

This position contributes to the Department mission of improving public safety by positively changing lives by providing expert specialized assistance to ensure facility compliance with PREA standards, PREA policies, RCW's and WAC rules thereby enhancing the safety of employees, contractors, volunteers, incarcerated individuals, and the public. This position is the full-time PREA Compliance Specialist at a major facility that includes three (3) separate complexes and houses incarcerated individuals classified as max, close, medium, or MI2 custody. The facility also includes a mental health/protective custody unit. This position exists to ensure there is no tolerance for sexual harassment, sexual abuse, assault and/or sexual misconduct. Key duties of this Corrections Specialist 2 position include:

• Serve as a Washington State Penitentiary PREA Compliance Specialist and provide expert consultation and technical assistance regarding PREA compliance for the facility.
• Provide on-site consultation and technical assistance to facility management and staff regarding implementation of national PREA standards and agency policies; respond to inquiries; and assist in issue resolution and local procedure development.
• Ensure monthly checks of incarcerated individual phones are conducted to verify the PREA hotline is functional and confirm PREA posters and brochures are displayed in each living unit.
• Meet annually (or more often as needed) with officials from the local hospital and the community victim advocate to coordinate roles and responsibilities in responding to allegations of aggravated sexual assault.
• Assist with managing PREA investigations for the facility which includes providing technical assistance and oversight from PREA investigations.
• Provide expert consultation and technical assistance regarding PREA compliance for the facility and maintain all documentations of all transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming individuals at WSP
• Chair a multi-disciplinary team to determine appropriate housing of transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals to ensure their safety as well as completion of the required housing protocols.

Qualifications

This position requires a working knowledge of management principals, Legislative Acts specific to the Department of Corrections, DOC policies and objectives, incarcerated individual management, programs, safety and health requirements, training needs assessment, affirmative action and cultural diversity regulations, communication techniques, motivation and mentorship.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Three (3) years of Corrections* experience in adult or juvenile corrections, social services, or closely related field.
• Ability to work independently; read, write and interpret policies and procedures; communicate effectively both in writing and speech work effectively with others.
• Ability to develop, implement, monitor, update, and adjust processes for staff to remain in compliance with the Department of Justice PREA standards.

• Note: Corrections experience means the focus of the work is dealing directly with incarcerated individuals a majority of the time.

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or closely allied field from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Two (2) years of work-related experience with Department of Justice PREA standards.

Supplemental Information

'The mission of DOC is Improving public safety by positively changing lives'

For additional information about the agency, please visit doc.wa.gov.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please include a minimum of three professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.

Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.

• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or in close proximity to incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.

• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.

• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment may also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• This position may be represented by a Union Shop.

We are committed to hiring individuals who possess core diversity competencies:

• Foster a positive attitude and openness toward the ever changing social and cultural makeup of the workplace.
• Work effectively with people of different perspectives, abilities, disabilities, races, religions, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Respectfully acknowledge people’s differences and recognize these differences as important and valuable.
• Promote inclusiveness.
• Be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Respect and value diverse backgrounds and traditions.

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.