Inmate Program Specialist

We are looking for an Inmate Program Specialist to provide assessment, case management, counseling, education, and re-entry services to individuals housed at the Northwest Regional Adult Detention Center (NRADC). This position supports inmates in addressing their individual needs, participating in appropriate programs and services, and preparing for successful re-entry into the community. As an Inmate Program Specialist, you will:

• Provide inmate services in the Community Corrections environment. 
• Interpret assessment tools.

• Conduct group and individual counseling and training to include substance abuse intervention, anger management, education, and other life skills and re-entry training. 
• Identify inmates with employment, life skills, and/or substance abuse deficits and determine client education, training, and/or counseling needs.  

• Assist the Medicaid Coordinator with preparing and submitting Medicaid pre-screening applications. 
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community and social services agencies to assist inmates with re-entry.
• Maintains adequate record-keeping in compliance with quality standards of NRADC.

• Any combination of education and work experience. A bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences or criminal justice is preferred.
  
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Two (2) years of substance abuse or rehabilitation/re-entry counseling is preferred.
• Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) is preferred.

NRADC Automatic Disqualifiers:

Criminal History:

1. Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2. Any conviction of plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude including but not limited to petit larceny under Section 18.2-96 of the Code of Virginia or any offense involving moral turpitude that would be a misdemeanor if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Crimes of moral turpitude include but limited to: fraud, all theft offenses and perjury.

3. Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor sex offense in the Commonwealth of Virginia, another state, or the United States, including but not limited to sexual battery under Section 18.2-67.4 of the Code Of Virginia or consensual sexual intercourse with a minor 15 or older under clause (ii) of Section 18.2-371 of the Code of Virginia, or domestic assault under Section 18.2-57.2 of the Code of Virginia or any offense that would be domestic assault under the laws of another state or the United States.

4. Any conviction that requires the registration in the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.

5. Undetected commission of any of the above crimes, as an adult.

Traffic Violations:

1. Has not held a valid driver’s license for a minimum of two (2) years.

2. Driver’s license suspended or revoked within three years of application.

3. Convicted within the past five years of any of the following:

• Operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• Fleeing or eluding a police officer
• Failure to stop after an accident (hit and run)
• Operating a vehicle with a suspended license
•  Participating in a speed contest or drag race
• Reckless driving or driving to endanger
• Violation of state regulations on implied consent

4. Convicted within the past ten years of any of the following:

• Homicide or manslaughter with a motor vehicle
• Theft or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of felony
• Assault with a motor vehicle
• More than two convictions for motor vehicle moving violations (other than those listed in b above) during the past three years 
• Involvement in two or more avoidable (at fault) accidents during the previous three years

Drugs:

1. The illegal sale or distribution of any illegal drugs in the past 7 years.

2. Any use of a controlled substance listed in Schedule I of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past five years from the date of application submission is an automatic disqualifier unless you have successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program. This does not include marijuana.

3. Any illegal use of a controlled substance listed in Schedule II of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past two years from the date of application submission is an automatic disqualifier unless you have successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program.

4. The illegal use, possession of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the previous twelve months.   

Illegal drug is defined as set forth in the Federal Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. §800 et al. and by the Code of Virginia. 

Others:

1. Past or current gang affiliation.

2. Dishonorable discharge from any military service.

3. Untruthfulness and/or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.

4. Intentional failure to follow the directions outlined in the testing process or relying on others to complete any portion of the testing process. 

Note:

This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. Applicants who are successful in the initial testing will undergo a thorough background investigation, including polygraph examination. Areas of concern will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the context of the full investigation/review. Examples of areas of concern may include, but are not limited to:

• Reduction of charges as a result of a plea agreement or other form of sentencing disposition prior to a conviction in any of the aforementioned criminal and driving history categories.

• Crimes committed as a juvenile, including undetected crime.

• Patterns of reckless and/or irresponsible driving.

• Multiple convictions of driving under the influence.

• Illegal drug use or possession that does not fall within the parameters defined above, including the use or possession of prescription drugs without a proper prescription.

• Less than honorable military discharge, erratic work record, or unfavorable employment references.

• Pending litigation or prosecution for criminal offenses must be resolved prior to consideration for employment. Some minor offenses are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors (e.g. littering) but would not result in automatic disqualification. 

Convictions of this nature would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in the context of the full investigation/review.

Physical Demands: Work is performed in a stressful environment with potential risks to personal safety. The position requires light to medium physical activity, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or moving items weighing up to 25 pounds. Effective communication, hearing, vision, and computer skills are required. The position involves regular interaction with pretrial and post-conviction inmates and may require working irregular hours.

Environmental Conditions: The majority of the work is indoors.  Regularly exposed to those convicted of or charged with felonies and misdemeanors, all susceptible to violent and/or unpredictable behavior. Work involves some degree of risk to personal safety in an inherently stressful environment.

To learn more about Frederick County, Virginia employee benefits, please visit the following webpage: https://www.fcva.us/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits 

All positions are subject to a criminal background check for any convictions that relate to the job duties and responsibilities. Frederick County Virginia Government is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The County’s EEO Utilization Report is available at www.fcva.us/jobs