TENTATIVE

Occ. Code  8747800

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

            Positions in this title series are responsible for monitoring correctional facilities to prevent and/or deal with riots; disturbances; hostage situations; inmate protests and strikes; barricaded inmates; potential suicides; escapes; and other crisis situations.  Incumbents formulate policy, ensure compliance with goals and objectives, monitor and evaluate the Facility Operations Weekly Summary (FOWS) reports and all unusual incidents, maintain contact with each facility, select and train team members and train other facility staff, develop the training curriculum and supervise Correctional Services Investigators who monitor gang activity system-wide.  In addition, incumbents work with outside law enforcement agencies, assume on-site command of Crisis Intervention Teams in the event of multiple deployments, develop, maintain, and coordinate intelligence and monitoring systems and sustain regular contact and briefings of facility executive teams and Central Office staff.

These positions are classified in the Main Office of the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS).  All incumbents at DOCS assist in the total care and confinement of inmates sentenced to the custody of the Department and perform various duties and functions in conjunction with the overall operation of a facility and/or location to which they are assigned

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

            ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM:   one position; management; assist the Director of Crisis Intervention Program in overseeing and training Crisis Intervention Teams at every DOCS facility, monitor crisis situations at DOCS Statewide.

            DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM:  one position; assume the overall administrative responsibility for the Crisis Intervention Unit; and maintain liaison with and provide direction to facility Crisis Intervention Teams.

RELATED CLASSES

Assistant Director of Correctional Guidance assists the Director of Correctional Guidance in the design and implementation of policy regarding guidance activities pursued by DOCS and engages in management activities necessary to ensure that guidance programs are effectively administered within departmental facilities. 

            Director of Correctional Guidance is responsible for the overall direction of the programs of guidance services at facilities of the Department.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Assist the Director of the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) in formulating policy and ongoing administration of the Crisis Intervention Program.

• Ensure compliance with goals and objectives outlined in the project manual through regular contact with facility CIU Team Leaders and functions as their primary contact.

• Recommend policy and procedure revisions on a continuing basis and new policies and procedures consistent with current practices and philosophies in correctional crisis intervention in order to increase administrative effectiveness.

Monitor and evaluate FOWS from each facility and reports unusual activity to the Deputy Commissioner.

• Provide training to staff on the basic goals of FOWS as a proactive management tool.
• Advise the facility FOWS coordinator and/or executive team on reporting methodology, interpretation of information received, which may indicate an impending crisis, and consult on any other problems in these areas.
• Maintain contact with each facility in order to facilitate the operation of the Statewide system.
• Evaluate the performance of the facility FOWS and make appropriate recommendations.
• Continually review each facility FOWS and make recommendations as to its operation. Recommend changes, omissions, and additions as determined necessary.
• Evaluate data from existing systems to determine its potential for use in other facility programs.  Recommend changes.
• Make recommendations regarding changes or additions to policies currently in effect at a facility that could result in an improvement of FOWS.
• Evaluate data received from FOWS and assist Director in the analysis and interpretation of the data.
• In conjunction with the Departments Training Academy, orient entry level employees regarding the FOWS and its basic goals.

Monitor, on a daily basis, all unusual incidents reported to the Communications Control Center (CCC).

• Review all unusual incidents which relate to the safe operation of facilities.
• Discuss relevant incidents with the CCC Captain.
• Confer with the appropriate Assistant Commissioner and Director regarding incidents of a serious or potentially serious nature.
• Follow up with the CCC Captain and the facility as needed.

Use appropriate selection and training devices for all Crisis Intervention Team members and assist the Director in ensuring that necessary selection is accomplished and training is provided.

• Recommend and administer policy and procedures for selection of Crisis Intervention Team members.
• Administer a psychological screening device (HTP) to Department employees who volunteer for CIU positions to determine fitness for selection.
• Administer exams designed to determine a candidates ability to comprehend and respond to hypothetical crises situations.
• Consider the psychologists recommendations following the review of the HTP test.

Develop and present training curriculum for CIU Teams in crisis intervention techniques.

• Assist the Director with planning and development of training seminars.
• Assign candidates to training courses and coordinate scheduling, ensuring that training schedules are initiated in a timely fashion.
• Prepare lesson plans, coordinate and participate in the training program.

DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM

May perform all of the same duties and functions as the Assistant Director of Crisis Intervention Program. 

Provide administrative oversight for the Crisis Intervention Unit

Coordinate training and readiness of facility Crisis Intervention Teams and DOCS Central Office Crisis Intervention Team.

Responsible for the structure, deployment, organization, and strength of CIU teams.

Continuously evaluate the crisis intervention program and staff, making structural and educational adjustments to the program, for curricula and training and for all strategic decisions that improve readiness and appropriateness of responses to inmate disputes, barricaded inmates, riots, hostage situations, protests, strikes and/or disturbances.

May give direction to a facilitys executive staff, with regard to crisis situations.

Exercise direct supervision over the Assistant Director, Senior Investigators assigned to the Central Office for intelligence gathering, evaluation and analysis, and for other professional staff assigned to the Unit.

• Provide supervision, guidance, and oversight to subordinate staff, and intervene and resolve problems as necessary.
• Determine and oversee staff assignments. 
• Approve leave and track time and attendance.
• Review, monitor, and evaluate staff performance. 
• Complete performance evaluations.
• Identify training needs and arrange for provision of training.
• Manage and direct program activities by setting priorities and deadlines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Promotion: three years of permanent competitive service as a Senior Investigator.

Open Competitive: six years of employment with a correctional services department, of which at least three must have included, on a part-time assignment basis, membership in a professionally developed crisis intervention team.

DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Promotion: five years of permanent competitive service as a Senior Investigator.

Open Competitive: ten years of employment with a correctional services department, of which at least five must have included, on a part-time assignment basis, membership in a professionally developed crisis intervention team.

Date:  8/09

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.