State of Maryland

A Correctional Recreation Officer III is the advanced level of work providing recreational activities for adult inmates confined in a correctional facility.  This work involves the custody, security and supervision of inmates participating in recreation programs.  Employees in this classification are responsible for planning, directing, and administering the facility's recreational program.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other Correctional Recreation Officers.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from a Correctional Security Chief or other managerial official.  Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.  Work is performed primarily in a correctional facility and employees are exposed to inmates who may be abusive and hostile.  Employees may be required to physically subdue and restrain inmates during fights and escape attempts.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing 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 Recreation Officer III is differentiated from the Correctional Recreation Officer II in that the Correctional Recreation Officer III performs advanced level independent work planning and directing the entire recreation program at a facility and related administrative duties while the Correctional Recreation Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision within established guidelines.  The Correctional Recreation Officer III is differentiated from the Correctional Recreation Supervisor in that the Correctional Recreation Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Correctional Recreation Officers.

Develops and implements a recreation program for adult inmates in a correctional facility;

Consults with the facility's administrators about the recreation program's budget and policies;

Coordinates the recreation schedule with the security staff in order to maintain security;

Organizes and directs sporting events and recreational activities, such as talent shows and theatrical presentations designed to assist inmates in developing respect for authority, punctuality, cooperation and good sportsmanship;

Maintains control and discipline among the inmate participants by enforcing safety, sanitary, custody and security regulations;

Conducts inmate counts;

Searches inmates for concealment of drugs, weapons, equipment and other unauthorized items;

Prepares reports of infractions;

Subdues and restrains inmates during fights and escape attempts;

Distributes and accounts for all sporting equipment issued to inmates;

Directs the activities of inmate athletic aides in the maintenance and upkeep of fields and in maintaining the cleanliness of athletic facilities;

Trains inmate athletic aides in score-keeping, officiating, and coaching;

Conducts periodic inventory of recreational equipment and recommends the purchase of new items in order to maintain necessary equipment levels;

Prepares program plans and rules;

Consults with inmate classification staff and security staff about the hiring and retention of inmate athletic aides;

Renders emergency first aid;

May act as a liaison with community groups and represents the recreation program at meetings of institutional staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of all security requirements of the facility that might affect the recreation program;

Knowledge of the principles of physical education and the methods of group recreation;

Knowledge of the rules of popular games and sports;

Knowledge of first aid and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation;

Skill in organizing sporting/recreational events;

Ability to develop program plans and rules;

Ability to plan budgets and evaluate policies;

Ability to learn and follow detailed procedures contained in correctional regulations, institutional directives and post orders;

Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and respond in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures;

Ability to observe and remember incidents and to recall details, such as identity of persons, location of items, conversations and sequence of events and actions taken during the incident;

Ability to work in an institutional setting where personal physical attack by convicted felons is a constant possibility and where the use of physical force to restrain inmates is a required part of the job;

Ability to prepare concise, accurate reports of events and incidents;

Ability to effectively communicate with assigned inmates, correctional officers and other institutional staff;

Ability to direct and instruct groups of inmates with varying kinds of temperament and talent in games and sports;

Ability to teach the rules of popular game, score-keeping, officiating and coaching;

Ability to direct the activities of inmate workers.

Experience: Six years of experience, two years of experience organizing, instructing and controlling groups of adult inmates participating in recreational activities that include competitive sports and four years of additional experience in organizing recreational activities.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in physical education or recreation from an accredited college or university and two years of experience organizing, instructing and controlling groups of adult inmates participating in recreational activities that include competitive sports for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience in correctional institutional specialty codes in the criminal justice field of work at a rate of two years of military experience for the required experience.

1. Employees who have not already done so must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission for institutional support staff during their probationary period. (Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209 of the Annotated Code of Maryland). Selection standards for institutional support staff training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 10, Chapter 01 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status
Must be at least 21 years of age
Oral interview
A completed background investigation
Physical examination.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations 06.01.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

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 H, Public Safety and Security 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.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.   An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.