Correctional Science Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Summary
Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.
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Duties
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Independently conducts group guidance sessions of a varying nature. This counseling deals with institutional adjustment, U.S. Parole commission, release planning, and interpersonal communications, individual counseling sessions varying in methods and intensity relevant to the individual's problems. They may focus on helping the individual offender understand and live within the complex family circumstances and assist him in developing new adjustment techniques. The Case Manager helps the offender view problems objectively and to deal with them realistically. Routinely deals with community resources to secure information and develop release plans. Prepare special progress reports for such consideration as parole, transfer, restoration of forfeited good time, and makes appropriate recommendations. Corresponds with attorneys, judges, probation and parole officers and other professionals regarding the inmate's case.
Prepares diagnostic studies, responsible for collecting, interpreting and evaluating factual information reflecting developmental and circumstantial factors for the assigned caseload of inmates. Acts in a liaison capacity with other units and institutional employees on matters concerning inmate behavior. Serves as the primary liaison with the U.S. Parole Commission in reporting the inmate's program progress, readiness or lack of readiness for release, and resources in the community relevant to the desirability of his release. Actively develops program planning by presenting cases to the Unit Team and coordinating case management services with other correctional disciplines.
Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement: www.sss.gov

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

• 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
• 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
• 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility:
  
  • A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter),
  • Most recent performance appraisal, and
  • Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
  • See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP or ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established ranking criteria.
EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
Qualifications
To be considered for the position, you must meet the following:
Basic Requirements:
A. Degree: that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience - that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences, and that provided applicants with knowledge of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a 4-year degree as shown in A above.
Evaluation of Education - Courses, such as sociology, correctional administration, criminal justice, government/political science, psychology, social work, counseling, and other related social or behavioral science courses may be used to satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement.
Evaluation of Experience - Experience must have been gained in (1)casework in a correctional institution or in another criminal justice setting; (2) counseling in any setting, provided it required diagnostic or treatment planning skills to achieve specific social or occupational goals; or (3) work treating persons in need of social rehabilitation.
Basic requirements qualify applicants for the GL-05 grade level.
AND
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements, applicants must have the following:
Education:
GL-07: One year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement.
GL-09: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.
Graduate Education must have been in corrections or a related field, such as criminal justice, sociology, psychology, counseling, social work, or other course work related to the position.
OR
Experience:
GL-07 and GL-09: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.
Some examples of this qualifying experience are:
GL-07:

• Assist in case management services.
• Assist in the collection, verification, and analysis of information in the preparation of social histories reflecting the nature and extent of problematic behavior, current social problems and causative factors.
• Assist in writing correspondence and preparation of correspondence and responses to various sources, including Attorneys, Judges, Members of Congress, Parole Offices and others.
• Assist in determining inmate needs and program goals for individuals and monitoring the progress of the programs.

GL-09:

• Experience in providing case management services to the local inmate population.
• Experience in the collection, verification, and analysis of information in the preparation of social histories reflecting the nature and extent of problematic behavior, current social problems and causative factors.
• Experience in determining inmate needs programs goals, monitoring inmate progress through development of progress reports
• Experience in writing correspondence and preparation of correspondence and responses to inquiries from various sources, i.e. Attorneys, Judges, Members of Congress, Parole Offices and others.

OR
Combination of Education and Experience:
GL-07 and GL-09: Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the major duties of this position as described above.
If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.
**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**
Education
See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.
ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.
Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
Superior Academic Achievement. (S.A.A.) applicants MUST provide a transcript in order to be considered under S.A.A.
S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

1. Class standing Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
   
   • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
   • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies

In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.
If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
Additional information
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for original appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.
Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. Please refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.
Special Conditions of Employment Section:
Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.
All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.
All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.
Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.
Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.