5H15

PAY RANGE: N31

 

DEPUTY PRISONS COMMISSIONER

 

GENERAL DEFINITION

 

            This is correctional management work at the Deputy Commissioner level directing and coordinating programs and operations in the City's prison facilities.  Employees in this class are responsible for directing either the operational aspects of correctional institutions, the administrative and general support units of the department, or the restorative and transitional services programs.  Supervision of a major segment of the department and contact with other City officials and representatives of court and criminal justice system agencies to insure interagency cooperation in coordinating program development and implementation and resolve common problems are major aspects of the work. Employees are required to be on-call at all times and to report to work when required. Work is performed under the direction of the Prisons Commissioner.

 

ALLOCATING FACTORS:  (The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

•           No more than three positions may be allocated to this class.

•           A position in this class must report directly to the Prisons Commissioner and be responsible for directing prison operations, administrative services, or restorative and transitional services.

 

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

 

            Directs a major division of the Philadelphia Prison system; directs prisons operations, administrative services or restorative and transitional services divisions of the Philadelphia Prisons through subordinate managers; confers with subordinate supervisors and managers on unit activities and problems; consults on the interpretation and application of departmental policies; coordinates activities with other departmental units; develops and implements changes in procedures, training and deployment of personnel.

            Directs daily operations of prison facilities through facility Wardens; tours correctional facilities, both physically and virtually, to ascertain compliance with established standards of security, housekeeping and maintenance; investigates and evaluates infractions; insures that corrective actions are taken; prepares the Prison system emergency response plan for events such as riots and natural disasters; directs the activities of special operational units, such as bike patrol, transportation, and the emergency response team; directs the activities of the Classification, Movement and Registrar (CMR) unit; manages maintenance and capital improvement of Prison facilities; provides direction to medical and food service contracts.

            Develops recommendations to modify or establish departmental goals, objectives and policies; evaluates operations and programmatic efficiency of units in relation to departmental goals and standards of performance; develops recommendation for changes in operations and appropriate actions for rectifying compliance problems with court directed mandates; develops, reports and analyzes performance measures; proposes revisions to policies and procedures based on performance measures.

Directs a large social services staff engaged in providing a variety of on-going social services to inmates, including intake and needs assessment, prerelease social transition services, employment counseling and development services, and representation at prison disciplinary hearings; prepares recommendations to institute training programs for the social services staff; formulates supervisory policies and procedures; directs development and implementation of  programs designed to encourage successful reintegration of offenders into the community; coordinates activities with a variety of community groups, government agencies and social service organizations; directs provision of behavioral health services to inmates.

            Functions as liaison between the Prisons, court, law enforcement, and other city department and community agencies; meets with appropriate representatives to discuss policies and programs and enhance interagency cooperation and coordination; discusses problems encountered by prison administrators in complying with court mandates.

Directs the preparation and administration of the operating budget for the prison system; directs the activities of information technology unit; defines information technology services and reports required to comply with court mandated requests for information; directs sharing of information with other government agencies; directs all human resources functions, including hiring, staff deployment, payroll, labor relations and staff discipline.

            Chairs departmental disciplinary and administrative boards; responds to emergency situations in prison facilities; represents the commissioner at official functions and meetings with other agencies.

            Performs related work as required.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

KNOWLEDGE OF:

 

·         modern correctional institution management principles, practices, methods and techniques

·         theory, principles and practices of modern prison management and criminal rehabilitation

·         institutional security and the methods of maintaining discipline among persons under restraint

·         risks encountered in a correctional setting, and the strategies and techniques available to reduce and control the risks.

·         methods and procedures used in planning, developing, implementing and coordinating non-security related inmate services

·         rules, regulations and statutory laws governing correctional institution security and operations including PA Title 37, Act 33, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and the Criminal History Record Information Act

·         principles and practices of public administration

·         supervisory principles and practices

·         principles, theories and methods of organizational planning and analysis

·         budgeting

·         development, reporting, and analysis of performance measures

·         computer software required by the assignment

·         city laws, ordinances, regulations and labor contracts related to human resources in the Prison system

·         the care and use of firearms, restraint devices, certain chemical agents, and other devices used to maintain the custody and control of inmates

 

SKILL IN:

 

·         evaluating the effectiveness of prison operations and in making procedural changes to provide efficient and effective operations

·         coordinating the activities of the organization with intra and extra departmental agencies

 

ABILITY TO:

 

·         direct the activities of a large staff engaged in providing operational and/or support services for correctional facilities

·         learn, interpret and coordinate the implementation of court directed mandates

·         evaluate information and evidence and to make logical conclusions

·         express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing

·         establish and maintain effective working relationships

·         interpret data and recommend changes to policies and procedures

·         utilize a computer including MS Office suite and email

 

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 11/14).

 

EDUCATION:

 

            Completion of a graduate degree program in a relevant field at an accredited college or university.

 

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

 

Ten years of experience in a correctional institution.

 

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

 

            Two years of experience as a Warden or directing, through subordinate supervisors, inmate social service programs.

 

OR

 

            Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included a bachelor’s degree and the specific experience described above.

 

NOTE:

 

THE FOLLOWING CLASSES TYPICALLY MEET THE MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

 

·         5H12- Warden

·         5A09- Human Services Program Administrator (Correctional)

 

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

 

            Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

 

Class Established:

9/74

Spec. Revision and Consolidation with 5A48:

CSC - 6/02

Ad Board - 9/02

Spec. Revision:

CSC -5/07

Ad Board – 7/07

Latest Spec. Revision: CSC – 9/14; Ad Board – 11/14

 

PF