State of Maryland

A Hearing Officer II, Parole Commission is the full-performance level of work conducting hearings for the parole of inmates from adult correctional institutions.  Employees in this classification evaluate circumstances, qualifications and progress of inmates and make recommendations on cases to be heard by the Maryland Parole Commission and conduct parole hearings for cases that are not required by law to be heard by the Commission.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chairperson of the Parole Commission or the Commission members.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Hearing Officer I Parole Commission and the Hearing Officer II Parole Commission are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Hearing Officer I Parole Commission performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Hearing Officer II Parole Commission performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Recommends parole cases to be heard by the Maryland Parole Commission (MPC) and conducts parole hearings for cases that are not required by law to be heard by the MPC;

Evaluates inmate suitability for parole based on circumstances of crimes, personal qualifications, progress during confinement, probability of remaining free and compatibility of releases with the general welfare of society;

Reviews official files of inmates before parole hearings;

Consults with institutional personnel regarding inmates’ progress while confined;

Travels to adult correctional institutions and community correctional facilities to interview inmates and conduct hearings;

Keeps records of hearings;

Informs inmates of the recommendations for granting or denial of parole at the conclusion of the hearings;

Prepares reports of findings and recommendations in each case;

Recommends dates for further hearings in the absence of parole grants to the Commission;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the purpose, activities, and responsibilities of the Maryland Parole Commission, the Division of Correction and the Division of Parole and Probation;

Knowledge of trends in correction and rehabilitation of criminal offenders;

Knowledge of employment, training and other community resources available for ex-offenders;

Skill in analyzing facts and preparing reports;

Ability to analyze the data available regarding inmates’ case history and adjustment plans and assess the suitability of inmates for parole;

Ability to interpret and apply laws and court decisions applicable to the parole of inmates;

Ability to interview and evaluate the information gathered from inmates, correctional staff and others involved in parole hearings;

Ability to extract pertinent facts from case records and to present clear and concise recommendations.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with courses in one or more of the following: law, sociology, psychology, education, social work, or criminology.

Experience: Two years experience in a State, local or federal parole authority conducting hearings and making recommendations or decisions for the parole of inmates from adult correctional institutions.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in the Social Science, Psychology and Welfare Group classifications or Social Science, Psychology and Welfare Group specialty codes, or Legal and Kindred group classifications or Legal and Kindred group specialty codes on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.