Surveillance Officer - Tippecanoe County Government

POSITION: Surveillance Officer

DEPARTMENT: Community Corrections

WORK SCHEDULE: As assigned

SALARY: $1,872.42 Biweekly

Incumbent serves as Surveillance Officer for the Tippecanoe County Community Corrections Work Release, Home Detention, Day Reporting, Community Integration, Community Transition, and Special Treatment Court programs, responsible for monitoring program participants for rule compliance, maintaining field contact/search records, and reporting non-compliances to appropriate staff.

DUTIES:

Monitors participants' movements throughout the community to ensure safety of all, such as making random home and worksite verifications, conducting searches of participants homes and vehicles for firearms and contraband, testing participants for alcohol usage using breathalyzer, repairing participants GPS equipment when needed, and assisting other law enforcement agencies when requested.

Responds to inquiries and maintains communication with participants, including emergency line, employers, victims and their families, court staff, lawyers, and court staff in a timely manner.

Monitors participants for compliance with rules, regulations, and special conditions, including preparing rule violation and disciplinary action reports, conducting revocation hearings, and performing oral/urine drug screens. Submits drug screen samples to testing company and completes required forms.

Prepares violation reports and forwards to appropriate personnel for approval.

Conducts telephone, office, and in-home contacts with assigned participants on a regular basis, recording all contacts and mileage log sheets in participants' electronic records.

Makes appropriate referrals to community agencies.

Ensures compliance with facility rules and regulations, and records/reports inappropriate behavior to appropriate Department personnel.

Maintains assigned vehicle and equipment, including scheduling preventative maintenance, cleaning interior/exterior regularly, testing taser batteries, and cleaning firearms.

Testifies at hearings of assigned participants as required. Assists various law enforcement agencies with investigations and warrants concerning participants.

May periodically assist department office personnel, such as delivering violation reports to courthouse. Routinely delivers the department's daily deposit to the Treasurer's Office.

Transports participants to and from work release site, the Tippecanoe County Jail, and jails in surrounding counties.

Remains current on evidence-based and best practices in the correctional field, including utilizing effective communication and motivational strategies when communicating with program participants. Completes a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education and required training annually.

Periodically performs duties of Case Manager/Corrections Officer as needed.

Serves on 24-hour call rotation for emergencies.

Performs related duties as assigned and/or required by law.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK

High school diploma or GED. Two (2) years' experience in criminal justice or degree in related field preferred.

Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain required certifications, such as First Responder/ CPR, Firearms, Taser, handgun permit, OC spray, and Evidence Based certification, and successful completion of Indiana Law Enforcement Academy 40hr pre-basic course.

Working knowledge of policy and procedures and basic understanding of assigned Community Corrections Programs, with ability to follow and make practical application of customary practices, procedures, rules, regulations and personnel policies of the Department.

Working knowledge of legal requirements and standard policies, practices, and general operations of the facility, with ability to apply appropriate procedures to ongoing operations.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to prepare documents, correspondence, and effective statistical reports as directed.

Working knowledge of and ability to properly use all assigned Department uniforms, equipment, and vehicles, including computer, printer, calculator, portable breathalyzer devices, camera, intercom system, radio, telephone, surveillance/monitoring and video cameras, electric locking devices, taser, OC, and handcuffs. Ability to maintain all equipment, including scheduling preventative maintenance, cleaning vehicle interior/exterior regularly, testing taser batteries, and cleaning firearms.

Ability to meet all Department hiring and retention requirements, including not posing a direct threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Ability to protect oneself from infectious diseases by avoiding high-risk environments and by having knowledge of and utilizing universal health precautions.

Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense.

Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the position, including but not limited to sitting and walking at will, walking/standing/sitting for long periods, lifting objects weighing more than 50 pounds, crouching/kneeling, bending at waist, reaching, handling/grasping/ fingering objects, close and far vision, hearing sound/communication, speaking clearly, physically restraining participants during emergency situations, and training in defensive tactics for up to 4 hours at a time.

Ability to effectively work and communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, various law enforcement agencies, court personnel, employment staffing companies, service agencies, program participants and their families, and the public including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to teach Evidence Based classes to program participants after retaining appropriate certifications.

Ability to obtain and apply knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, ordinances, and accepted police procedure.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to State requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to occasionally work evening, extended, and weekend hour, travel out of town, sometimes overnight, and serve on 24-hour call rotation for emergencies, responding swiftly, rationally, and decisively to emergency situations.

Possession of a valid driver's license and a demonstrated safe driving record.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent performs recurring duties according to well-established Department policies and procedures, with work priorities primarily determined by supervisor. Incumbent selects applicable methods to take authoritative action in response to situational demands. Incumbent's work frequently involves non-routine problem-solving to gain cooperation of law offenders in situations that may jeopardize the safety of the public and/or incumbent. Incumbent's work is primarily reviewed through direct observation by supervisor for compliance with Department policies and procedures. Errors in decisions or work are usually prevented through procedural safeguards, are detected by supervisory review, and may lead to endangerment of self and/or others...

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent communication with co-workers, various law enforcement agencies, court personnel, employment staffing companies, service agencies, program participants and their families, and the public for purposes of monitoring and evaluating participants, exchanging information, explaining policies and procedures, and supervising inmates.

Incumbent reports directly to Program Coordinators and/or Deputy Director.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a detention facility and in the field, involving sitting/walking at will, walking/standing and/or sitting for long periods, lifting/carrying objects weighing more than 50 pounds, crouching/kneeling, bending at waist, reaching, handling/grasping/fingering objects, close and far vision, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communication. No prolonged extreme physical demands are associated with normal duties or assignments. Incumbent is frequently exposed to the hazards associated with jail operations, such as communicable diseases and potentially dangerous, violent, and abusive program participants, and must respond swiftly, rationally, and decisively in the situation.

Incumbent occasionally works evening, extended, and weekend hour, travels out of town, sometimes overnight, and serve on 24-hour call rotation for emergencies, responding swiftly, rationally, and decisively to emergency situations.