Correctional Counselor I

Job Description

Job Description and Duties
Under the direction of the Correctional Counselor II (s), the Correctional Counselor I interviews incarcerated people and evaluates their adjustment to, and progress in correctional treatment programs; counsels incarcerated people on personal, institutional and family problems; collects, evaluates and records social behavior and vocational data on incarcerated people; abstracts and contributes to cumulative case history data and makes recommendations pertinent to classification and assignment planning; identifies and reports on special, educational and vocational problems as basis for recommending appropriate programs of vocational training, maintains case histories on incarcerated people during confinement and makes recommendations on changes in classification assignments, prepares board reports on incarcerated people’s activities in the institutions; prepares pre-release reports for field use, maintains regular up-dating of classification scores and schedules cases for Classification Committee and transfers as indicated, functions as required as a member of a disciplinary committee and advises on case factors used in appropriate disciplinary disposition. NOTE: Correctional Counselors are Correctional Peace Officers, and as such, are required to report to work in professional attire, don all Safety Equipment upon reporting for duty (i.e. you must wear your Stab Resistant Vest while on duty, you must have on your person a whistle, CPR Micro Shield and chit-out a Personal Alarm and chemical agents).  You may be required to perform other Correctional Peace Officer duties as directed and are required to maintain all required weapons qualification standards of training. Please see attached duty statement for full details. This is a 12 month Limited Term position that may be extended to 24 months, with the possibility of becoming permanent. 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. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification. CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR I

Special Requirements
The position(s) require(s) completion of educational courses as specified in the Class Specification (link available in the Minimum Requirements section). Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission. Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board. Applicants who completed their education outside of the US (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of U.S. course/degree equivalency. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at NACES | National Association of Credential Evaluation Services Candidates new to CDCR or the Division of Juvenile Justice are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting, and Tuberculosis testing prior to appointment followed by department annual Tuberculosis testing/evaluation thereafter. When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred. CDCR/CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate’s identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov This advertisement may be used for other vacancies that occur during the life of this recruitment.

Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: Willingness
to create and promote an inclusive workplace that empowers employees from a
variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. Knowledge of: Grammar, spelling, and correct usage of written and oral communication; correctional casework procedures; an understanding of the range of normal and abnormal human behavior; the policies and procedures of custody; problems involved in the supervision and adjustment of inmates; the various prison gangs, including gang memberships, interaction between gangs, special housing considerations, and the associated potential dangers to staff and inmates; cultural differences and perspectives of the inmates; the causative factors related to criminal patterns (crimes within the institution, gang applications, recidivism, etc.); group processes and dynamics, including various roles played by group participants and the different types of questions or modes of inquiry which can be used in group settings; simple arithmetic. Ability to: Write comprehensive, complete, clear, and concise reports; utilize oral and written language to communicate effectively with inmates, staff and the public; command the respect and trust of inmates and staff; organize and prioritize work; meet deadlines; deal tactfully/diplomatically with sensitive issues; evaluate situations accurately and take effective action; deal effectively with a high volume of work; obtain specific information from an inmate during an interview; work under pressure; respond effectively to emergency situations; work independently; control an interview with an inmate; interpret institutional and departmental policies, rules and regulations; adjust to changes in assignments; work with a team of people from a variety of occupations and professional disciplines; motivate an inmate toward specific goals; recognize and handle dangerous situations for inmates and staff.