State of Maryland

A Parole and Probation Agent Senior is the full performance level of work in one of the two areas as follows: supervising a mixed caseload of minimum, medium and maximum security adult parole and probation cases; or performing a designated program role.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Parole and Probation Field Supervisor or other administrator.  Employees may be expected to work on weekends or holidays and may be contacted at any time of the day or night.             

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the a class specification.            

The Parole and Probation Agent I, Parole and Probation Agent II and Parole and Probation Agent Senior are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Parole and Probation Agent I learns to perform duties under close supervision,.  The Parole and Probation Agent II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Parole and Probation Agent Senior performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

                                                When assigned to Caseload Supervision:

Conducts field visitations to clients' homes, employment and community treatment programs consistent with case supervision responsibilities;

Counsels persons on parole and probation concerning personal problems;

Interviews parole and probation clients and explains the rules and requirements of a community supervision program;

Investigates proposed residence and employment plans and helps persons on parole and probation make environmental changes, such as finding other residence, employment, social contacts and affiliations;

Testifies in court concerning violations of probation and for other purposes;

Testifies before the Parole Commission;

Prepares investigational reports, case records, and progress summaries;

Conducts complicated investigations and supervision of cases not assigned to lower-level staff;

Assists with training and conducts orientation of less experienced agents;

Conducts field investigations requested by the court or Parole Commission;

Recommends actions to be taken with respect to technical violations of the rules of parole and probation to authorities concerning the possible modification of special conditions which they had imposed at the time of granting parole and probation;

Monitors productivity, morale, and accountability of lower-level staff;

May prepare reports which are subject to audit for purpose of evaluation and performance standards;

May function as backup to unit supervisor;

Performs other related duties.

                                                    When assigned a Designated Program Role:

Performs program functions in the areas of substance abuse, specialized training duties or volunteer programs;

Plans, schedules, organizes, and carries out the work of the assigned operation;

Researches the subject matter of the assigned special operation in order to reach an expert level of proficiency in the specialty;

Consults professionally with others bearing comparable assignments both in Division Headquarters and other parole and probation departments;

Cooperates closely with pertinent judicial and law enforcement agents;

Guides and assists special activities;

Acts as a liaison with related community service agencies;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of criminology, psychology, and sociology;

Knowledge of the conceptual and overt behavioral patterns of persons with histories of anti-social behavior;

Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques;

Knowledge of community resources in the areas of employment, health, welfare, detention, and law enforcement;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of parole and probation;

Knowledge of investigative techniques;

Knowledge of the Division of Parole and Probation Operations Manual;

Ability to deal constructively with aggressive, hostile, or emotional parole and probation clients;

Ability to gather, evaluate and report factual personal information regarding clients;

Ability to prepare clear, complete and concise reports;

Ability to respond to interpersonal relationships with tact, diplomacy, and good judgment;

Ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relations with others;

Ability to project a professional manner at all times;

Ability to perform duties with minimal supervision;

Ability to guide and advise less experienced Parole and Probation Agents.

Education:  A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with 30 semester credit hours in the social, behavioral, or correctional sciences.

Experience: Four years of experience in one or more of the following areas of work: parole and/or probation, counseling youth, vocational or marital counseling, social work, inmate classification counseling in correctional institutions, or criminal or civil field investigations.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute one year of specialized experience counseling, investigating, or supervising persons on parole or probation for the 30 semester credit hours in the social, behavioral, or correctional sciences.

2. Candidates may substitute graduate level education in the social, behavioral, or correctional sciences for up to one year of the required general experience at a rate of 30 semester credits for one year of experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military services experience as a commissioned officer in social work or correctional counseling classifications or specialty codes in the criminal justice field of work at the rate of two years of military experience for one year of the required experience.

1. Employees must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the entrance-level training program as set forth in the Code of Maryland Regulations by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission. Selection standards of the Correctional Training Commission may be obtained from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Suite 309, 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to bargaining unit H, Public Safety and Security Unit. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1.) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2.) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3.) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.