State of Maryland

A Correctional Hearing Officer I is the intermediate level of work scheduling and conducting inmate disciplinary hearings in adult correctional institutions.  Employees in this classification serve as adjudicators at inmate disciplinary hearings involving major infractions and violations of the rules and regulations of the Division of Correction.    Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Correctional Hearing Officer Supervisor.  These employees may also receive administrative direction from wardens.  Employees will be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in based on staffing needs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated 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 Correctional Hearing Officer I and Correctional Hearing Officer II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised over employees.  The Correctional Hearing Officer I 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 Correctional Hearing Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Schedules and conducts inmate disciplinary hearings at assigned adult correctional institutions;

Reviews facts to determine guilt or innocence of inmates charged with one or more infractions and apply the appropriate penalties based on evidence and testimony presented in accordance with the Division of Correction Regulations (DCRs), other applicable rules, regulations and guidelines and case precedents;

Determines disciplinary actions that affect inmate privileges, length of sentences and levels of security classifications;

Reviews incident reports of inmate infractions before hearings;

Advises institutional officials on Division of Correction Regulations relating to inmates incident reports and hearings;

Ensures inmates are provided with due process as required by State regulations and applicable local, federal and State court orders;

Maintains records of hearings, determinations, penalties assessed and applicable regulations;

Defends determinations as management representative in appeals taken to the Office of Administrative Hearings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the purpose, activities and responsibilities of the Division of Correction;

Knowledge of trends in corrections and rehabilitation of criminal offenders;

Knowledge of inmate rights and laws;

Knowledge of the Rules of Administrative Proceedings;

Ability to analyze facts presented in disciplinary reports and testimony and reach sound, reasonable conclusions;

Ability to interpret and apply Division of Correction rules and regulations as well as local, State and federal court rulings and Inmate Grievance Commission opinions to the inmate disciplinary process;

Ability to understand inmate base files and extract pertinent facts from the case records;

Ability to present clear and concise recommendations;

Ability to make independent and fair judgments under stressful conditions.

Experience: Five years of experience, one year of experience counseling or supervising adult inmates in a correctional setting involving inmate compliance with institutional rules and regulations or one year of experience conducting compliance investigations or evidential hearings in a correctional setting and four additional years of experience counseling or supervising adult inmates in a correctional setting.

Note: Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience counseling or supervising adult inmates in a correctional setting involving inmate compliance with institutional rules and regulations or one year of experience conducting compliance investigations or evidential hearings in a correctional setting for the required experience.

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 the 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.