New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals

Parole Officer/Facility Parole Officer 1

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,302 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $651 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before March 8, 2008, you must have a bachelor's degree and three years of professional experience as a social caseworker or a group worker in a recognized social services, correctional, criminal justice, community, or human welfare agency. Read the "Qualifying Experience" before you apply. If you expect to meet the education requirements by August 31, 2008, you can be admitted to the written test. You cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successfully completing this educational requirement by August 31, 2008, to the New York State Division of Parole.

Substitution

A law degree or a master's degree in social work or rehabilitation counseling may be substituted for two years of the required experience. A master's degree in probation and parole, sociology, criminal justice, or psychology may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Qualifying Experience

1. To qualify for this examination, your professional casework experience must have focused primarily on the establishment of an ongoing, one-to-one relationship between you and the client, where you are responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate treatment services for significant social problems, such as substance abuse, mental and emotional problems, family disturbance, and delinquency.
2. Group work experience must have focused primarily on responsibility for conducting group sessions designed to provide the participants with therapeutic services for significant social problems such as substance abuse, mental and emotional problems, family disturbance, and delinquency. An important criteria used in determining acceptable group work experience is the applicant's formalized training in group sessions.
3. Types of experience that would NOT qualify include group work oriented toward behavior modification in such areas as self-improvement or tobacco cessation; teaching or guidance counseling; paraprofessional aides; employment interviewing; house-parenting; camp counseling; legal counseling; public health specialists; benefits determination or discrimination investigating; pastoral counseling; non-social work therapy, i.e., speech and hearing, recreation, occupational or physical therapy; casework which is primarily referral; and positions that have custodial or security duties as their primary function, i.e., correction officer, security guard, police officer, or college resident assistant.
4. If your experience is in a non-qualifying title, but your duties comprise casework or group work as described in 1 or 2 above, you will be required to provide verification of all information on your application.

Additional Requirements

If you pass the written test, you will be notified, in score order, to appear for physical, psychological, and investigative screening prior to appointment. You must meet the following requirements at the time of appointment.

• Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include binocular visual acuity not less than 20/30 with or without correction (if correction is required, binocular visual acuity not less than 20/70 without correction), acceptable color perception, and satisfactory speech and hearing. You will also be tested for satisfactory physical strength and coordination. To obtain a complete statement of the physical and medical standards write to the Medical Review Unit, NYS Department of Civil Service, 55 Mohawk Street, Suite 201, Cohoes, NY 12047. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards for this screening will result in disqualification.
• Background: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that may include a thorough character investigation. All arrests and convictions must be reported. Criminal Procedure Law Section 160.50(d)(v) allows us access to arrest records. Candidates must demonstrate that they meet the requirements of Section 259-f of the Executive Law. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment. Conviction of a misdemeanor or other violations of the law, or any falsified or omitted information, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits and consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.
• Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical laboratory fee. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.
• Fingerprinting and Fees: Fingerprinting is required at the time of appointment. You will be required to pay the processing fee.
• License: In the course of your employment as a Parole Officer, you will be required to transport parolees, do surveillance work in the community and perform other field responsibilities requiring the use of a state or personal vehicle. As a Facility Parole Officer, you may be required to attend Parole Board hearings at other correctional facilities. Parole Officers and Facility Parole Officers must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.

Notes

1. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
2. Parole Officers and Facility Parole Officers are public officers under state law. At appointment you must be a resident of New York State and at least 21 years old.
3. Parole Officers and Facility Parole Officers are peace officers and must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. U.S. citizenship is required. All appointees will be required to participate in, and satisfactorily complete, all requirements of a training program. Training will include classroom instruction in such areas as basic law, social work practice and case management, street survival, firearms training, and arrest procedures. Successful completion of the training program is mandatory for continued employment.
4. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.state.ny.us/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2DMS.
5. If you pass the examination for No. 24-958 or 24-956, you will be required to demonstrate your Spanish language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position. Only enough candidates to fill current vacancies will be called to the proficiency test.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Division of Parole.

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Duties

As a Parole Officer, Parole Officer (Spanish Language), Facility Parole Officer 1, or Facility Parole Officer 1 (Spanish Language), you must be willing and able to attend approximately eight weeks of training, be trained in the use of firearms, handle and discharge firearms, work with criminals who have histories of committing violent crime, and work with people who have openly hostile attitudes towards you.

As a Parole Officer or Parole Officer (Spanish Language), you would typically be assigned to a Field Parole Office in one of several geographic regions around the state, provide supervision and guidance to an assigned caseload of releasees from state and local correctional facilities, and help releasees comply with the terms and conditions of their release. You would perform both social work and law enforcement functions. You would work with community-based organizations to deliver needed services to an offender population under court-imposed sentences and place releasees under arrest when necessary. You may be assigned to work with juvenile offenders and work releasees.

As a Facility Parole Officer 1 or Facility Parole Officer 1 (Spanish Language), you would typically be assigned to one or more of the state's correctional facilities. You would provide guidance to an assigned caseload of inmates and assess needs, prepare evaluations, and prepare eligible inmates for release into the community. You would make recommendations to the Board of Parole regarding inmates' readiness for release. You would perform both social work and law enforcement functions. You may be assigned to work with juvenile offenders.

If you are not willing and able to accept these working conditions, DO NOT APPLY for these examinations.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Parole casework - These questions will test for knowledge and application of principles and practices of casework and counseling in a correctional/parole rehabilitation setting.
2. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to write the kinds of reports and correspondence required in criminal justice settings such as probation and parole. Some questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately. Others test for the ability to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

S2/TC1 DMC-tlm
Issued: 12/21/07

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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