Correctional Program Specialist,

Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

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Has institutional oversight responsibility for insuring the legality and duration of confinement of commitments to the custody of the Attorney General.

Accountable for all functions of the above referenced offices which include the intake and releasing systems, physical processing of inmates, prevention of the introduction of contraband, safeguarding and disbursing of inmate personal property, judgment and commitment records maintenance to include archiving, review sentence computations, security and control of records, ensuring the mail room staff process and deliver inmate mail and packages within prescribed time frames, coordination of prisoners' transfer, oversight of data systems.

Maintains liaison with the U.S. District Courts and D.C. Superior Court, other committing agencies, local law enforcement agencies, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Parole Commission (USPC), and many other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staffs correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.

Career Transition Programs (CTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

• 1. Meet CTAP eligibility criteria;
• 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
• 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established ranking criteria.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Education:

GL-09: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B or J.D., if related.

GS-11: A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M., if related.

Major study - correctional administration, criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, or other fields related to the position.

OR

Experience:

GL-09 and GS-11: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is directly related experience that included substantial involvement with a correctional program and provided a thorough knowledge of correctional techniques, or experience in meeting and dealing with people that demonstrated the ability to work effectively with inmates and associates in a correctional environment.

GS-11 Only: Experience must have also demonstrated the ability to perform supervisory or administrative duties successfully. This includes (1) understanding the problems of custody, treatment, training, and release of inmates of penal or correctional institutions; (2) a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of an institution's internal policies, programs, regulations, and procedures; and (3) training subordinates, coordinating and directing activities and functions, evaluating performance of operations and the effectiveness of programs, and maintaining high standards or work objectives. This experience must have been gained in an administrative position, or in other positions that included the successful direction, or assistance in the direction of, an entire correctional program or a major phase of such a program.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

GL-09:

• Experience answering inmate questions regarding sentence computations, WRITS, and detainers.
• Experience providing guidance for correcting computed inmate sentences.
• Experience in auditing and interpreting sentence computations or training Correctional Systems Officers regarding basic steps for sentence computation.
• Experience in providing oversight for all functions related to the Mailroom and Receiving and Discharge areas and Records Office, to include admission and release, physical processing, bus movement, and final releases.
• Experience in sentence computation, complex legal issues, legal confinement, mail management, records security and maintenance, court processes and data management.
• Experience in providing oversight of inmate movement utilizing JPATS, BOP bus movements, coordination and preparation of transfer notices, federal and state WRITS, and Interstate Agreement on Detainers.
• Experience and knowledge in the area of Federal and D.C. sentencing and experience in providing staff with interpretations of statutes and case law.

GS-11:

• Experience in the intake and releasing systems, physical processing of inmates, prevention of the introduction of contraband, safeguarding and disbursing of inmate personal property.
• Experience in judgment and commitment records maintenance to include archiving, reviewing sentence computations, security and control of records.
• Experience in the coordination of prisoners' transfer, oversight of data systems, and the maintenance of quarterly prisoner billings.
• Experience in the oversight of inmate movement via the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) airlift, BOP bus and/or van movements, to include coordination and preparation of transfer notices, Federal and state WRITS, and Interstate Agreement on Detainers (IAD) Act with appropriate agencies and proper accounting, maintenance and shipment of holdover and designated inmates, including personal and legal property and prison records.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

GL-09 and GS-11: Have a combination of education and experience. This experience must have equipped you with the particular qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution.

The representative rate for this position is $88,668 per annum ($42.49 per hour).

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Initial appointment to a supervisory/managerial position requires a one-year probationary period.

The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score of 68 must be obtained. Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score. Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

The addresses listed on the USAJOBS account/resume must be the primary residence at the time of application. You may be required to provide proof of residence.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

Although competitive and non-competitive applications are being accepted, the selecting official may elect to have only one group reviewed.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Exceptions may apply. See 5 CFR part 11.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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