5H07
PAY RANGE: N24
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is supervisory correctional work directing and coordinating the safety and security operations of a correctional institution. An employee in this class, through subordinate supervisors, directs a large number of correctional personnel and performs a variety of facilitating administrative tasks in support of prison institutional operations. Work involves ensuring that security activities conform to Prison rules and regulations and court mandates. Contact with inmates, prison staff, education and social service professionals in the institution, superiors and law enforcement agencies, is significant to the work. Incumbents may be designated to work in the capacity of a Shift Commander or work in an assignment area responsible for adjudicating disciplinary hearings for inmates, coordinating inmate intake and placement, supervising the emergency response team, or conducting confidential investigations of employee misconduct. Employees in this class assume full responsibility for the institution in the absence of superiors during an assigned shift, holiday and/or weekend duty coverage. Work is performed under the direction of a higher level correctional superior and involves conditions which can be only partially controlled.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
• Position must direct and coordinate safety and security operations of a correctional institution.
• Position must perform a variety of facilitating administrative tasks in support of Prison institutional operations.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
Shift Commander Assignment:
Inspects, through subordinate supervisors, the physical and sanitary conditions of the facility; tours the facility to ensure all operations are being properly performed; ensures proper functioning of the electronic and mechanical systems and devices in the plants such as surveillance equipment, electronic gates, locks and telephones; ensures the cleanliness of living areas of inmates.
Conducts, through subordinate supervisors, daily roll call for inmates and periodic search and seizure of contraband; monitors the activities of inmates and prison staff, education and social service professionals working in the institution to ensure the provision of adequate security services; intervenes in any serious situation; deploys and directs correctional staff to quell disturbances when necessary.
Investigates reports of misconduct and rights violations by Prison staff and/or inmates and conducts pre-employment background checks by gathering information and monitoring communications personally or through subordinate staff to investigate cases of a confidential nature; confers with subordinate supervisors on inmate custody problems; confers with inmates upon request concerning institutional or personal problems with prison staff, education and social service professionals; confers with superiors on these and other problems; makes recommendations for changes in procedures and/or programs; utilizes surveillance technology during investigations in addition to specialized hardware and software technology including the Inmate Jail Management System to monitor and record phone conversations, other electronic transmissions and random surveillance footage review; trains subordinates in proper techniques of conducting investigations and will supervise and assist with investigations directly as needed, forwarding findings to the Prisons Commissioner, the Philadelphia Prison Systems Internal Affairs Unit and other City or law enforcement agencies as necessary; maintains a high degree of confidentiality because of the sensitive nature of most investigations; testifies before the Civil Service Commission and in court as necessary pending the outcome of an investigation; may contact Police or Probation department on cases involving offenses committed by inmates while in prison; may refer cases involving visiting persons to the Police department.
Reviews reports submitted by subordinate supervisors; prepares daily, weekly, monthly and yearly activity reports and records all activity utilizing the prison statistical software program (CORESTAR); may assist with the preparation of CORESTAR presentations; prepares subordinates' work schedules, assignments and overtime; prepares performance report for subordinates.
Directs the training and instruction of newly recruited and current correctional officers; designs curriculum in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations and based on current institutional priorities; schedules and conducts in-service and on-the-job training for correctional officers; ensures that Training Academy staff are properly trained and certified for classes to which they are assigned; makes recommendations pertaining to their efficiency and prepares weekly and monthly reports detailing records of all trainings, including analysis of strengths and weaknesses of current training classes with recommendations for improvement; determines if correctional officer recruits will graduate.
Serves on the Employee Review Board charged with the responsibility for determining eligibility of candidates for employment; serves on the Administrative Segregation Review Board charged with the responsibility for assessing and evaluating the mental and physical state of inmates kept in special custody.
This assignment assumes full responsibility for the institution in the absence of superiors during an assigned shift, holiday and/or weekend duty coverage.
May coordinate a facility specific inmate program such as the inmate work release program.
Performs related work as required.
Disciplinary Hearing Officer Assignment:
Serves at inmate disciplinary board hearings as the charging officer; renders verdicts and determines any disciplinary action according to established guidelines.
Intake and Placement Assignment:
Participates in the classification of newly arrived inmates; directs search and seizure of monies and other materials from newly arrived inmates; determines cells or dormitories to be assigned to inmates based on their crimes, mental or physical conditions; notifies social workers of such arrangements.
Emergency Response Assignment:
Coordinates and activates the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) for immediate response to emergencies and disturbances within the Philadelphia Prison System.
Office of Professional Compliance Assignment:
Supervises and conducts confidential investigations of employee misconduct as directed by the Commissioner of Prisons.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
• modern prison management and criminal rehabilitation principles and practices
• the methods and techniques required to enforce discipline among inmates
• the rules and regulations governing the security of a correctional institution
• the statutory laws governing correctional institutions including PA Title 37, Act 33, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and the Criminal History Record Information Act
• the social factors which result in the institutionalization of juveniles and adults
• individual and group behavior of persons in custody
• housekeeping and sanitation requirements of a large correctional facility
• supervisory methods and techniques
• the use and care of firearms, restraint devices, certain chemical agents, and other devices used to maintain the custody and control of inmates
ABILITY TO:
• enforce rules, regulations, policies and procedures firmly, tactfully and impartially
• express oneself effectively, both orally and in writing
• learn the operation of, and to obtain proficiency with a variety of firearms, and to maintain such proficiency during tenure as a Correctional Captain if required by work assignment
• establish and maintain effective work relationships with associates
• utilize a computer including MS Office suite and email
• learn and obtain proficiency in specialized electronic systems for correctional facilities
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 8/15.)
EDUCATION:
Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Three years of experience guarding inmates in a correctional institution.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:
Two years of experience as a Correctional Lieutenant supervising the activities of subordinate correctional officers through Correctional Sergeants.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included the specific experience as indicated above.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Correctional Captain.
Class Established:
CSC - 4/73
Ad. Board - 5/73
Spec. Revision: CSC- 1/93; Ad. Board- 4/93
CSC- 2/10; Ad. Board- 3/10
CSC- 9/14; Ad. Board- 11/14
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC- 8/15
Ad. Board- 8/15
Change in pay rate:
CSC – 5/23
Ad. Board – 6/23
JL