Hearings Officer

HEARINGS OFFICER

MISSOULA PROBATION & PAROLE

MISSOULA, MT

MISSION - Montana Department of Corrections is creating a safer Montana through Accountability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment.

If you want to work making positive changes in the community the Montana Department of Corrections is the place for you!

JOB OVERVIEW - Under the direction of the Captain, this position functions as a Hearings Officer (HO) for Probation and Parole. Working closely with contracted facility staff, the Hearings Officer conducts resident and inmate worker Class I and II rule violation hearings ensuring appropriate due process rights.  The HO may be called upon to conduct on-site or conditional release disciplinary hearings apart from facility hearings.  The Hearings Officer is key to ensuring the disciplinary process is fair and impartial.

Disciplinary Hearings: Conducts disciplinary/violation hearings for contracted facility residents who are charged with Class I or Class II Rule Violations.  The disciplinary hearing procedures provide for due process reviews of violations providing case by case decisions in compliance with mandated rules and laws.

Receives information on an alleged violation from a facility; reviews the information provided and completes a thorough investigation as it relates to the violation by speaking to staff or offender witnesses and/or the accused offender(s), examining physical evidence, and analyzing the information collected.  Receives and secures evidence.  The HO ensures that the information is detailed and complete and ready for the hearing.

Sets up the disciplinary hearing; assesses possible witnesses; decides how best to introduce testimony.  Conducts hearings in a fair and impartial manner, ensuring the resident’s due process rights have been afforded. Reviews disciplinary reports; makes decisions regarding witnesses; takes and records testimonies; obtains, reviews, and evaluates evidence; determines whether submitted evidence supports allegations of violation.  Imposes sanctions as necessary, based on best practice, the severity of the violation, and the history of the offender. 

Maintains a record of each hearing, determination, sanction assessed, and applicable regulations. Documents the findings from the hearings and verbally communicates the findings and sanctions imposed to the resident and facility staff.  The HO enters the rule violations and the sanctions imposed in the Offender Management Information System (OMIS) following the hearing to ensure the record is accurate and current.  The HO generates and distributes required documents as necessary.  Prepares and distributes reports and correspondence.  Defends determinations in case of an appeal.

Administrative:

The HO provides vision and direction in managing the challenging population for which hearings are conducted.  The HO develops working relationships with facility administration and staff; provides direction to both staff and the offender population on the hearing process. Using understanding of rules, policies, procedures, laws, and best practices that govern hearings, the HO provides expert technical direction to facilities and inmates in the process.  Researches and analyzes the effects of decisions on the population, available beds, the effect on the budget, and how all of this information can be used for the best benefit of the offender, the facilities, and the Department.

This position will normally be a DAY job, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Work can be expected to be performed in DOC contracted facilities, probation/parole offices, detention facilities, or other designated locations.  The incumbent must be willing/able to travel to locations throughout the Region to conduct hearings.  Duties include regular, direct exposure to potentially dangerous offenders.  Conducting hearings and making decisions may expose the incumbent to physical, verbal, and emotional abuse by residents charged with rule violations. 

APPLICATION MATERIALS – Applications missing required documentation may not be considered.

Cover Letter

Resume

State of Montana Application

Materials submitted but not requested may not be considered in the selection process, please make sure all attachments are marked as RELEVANT.

If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.

Background screens which may include criminal records check, child/patient/offender abuse registries, and reference checks will be conducted for this position.

BENEFITS

Employment with the state may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under PSLF.  Look here to learn more and see if you may qualify!

NOTICES

Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 -  Any person who has been convicted of engaging in or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or any person who has been civilly or administratively adjusted to have engaged in the activity as described are not qualified for this position.

Tobacco Free - Use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco products and tobacco substitutes in Department of Corrections buildings, is prohibited.  In secure care facilities possession of tobacco products is also prohibited.

The Montana Department of Corrections is an EOE/M/F/D/V/SO (Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority, Female, Disabled, Veteran, Sexual Orientation)