The mission of the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) is “To protect the citizens of Colorado by holding offenders accountable and engaging them in opportunities to make positive behavioral changes and become law abiding, productive citizens”
Our vision…”Building a safer Colorado for today and tomorrow”
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.
In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:
Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans;
Medical and dental health plans;
Short and long term disability coverage;
Paid life insurance;
10 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.
Job Location: Delta Correctional Center (DCC), Delta, CO. Travel will be required to Rifle Correctional Center (RCC), Rifle, CO as needed.
Description of Job
The position is a paralegal working directly with offenders in a correctional facility environment and functioning in the capacity of liaison with offenders and CDOC staff.
Job duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Assist adult offenders classified at various security levels, to include disabled offenders, regarding the use of legal materials and the selection and preparation of legal documents;
Monitor the daily operations and ensure the security of assigned facility law libraries to maintain a secure work environment within a penal setting;
Provide alternative legal access to those offenders who do not have physical access to a law library;
Provide offenders with photocopies of legal materials and receive, log, and deliver all photocopied loan material;
Log, prepare loan sheets, and enter statistical information into computer to facilitate the production of monthly statistical reports by supervisor;
Monitor and manage offender legal access computers, including legal research programs, word processing, and provide notary services;
Supervise, hire and terminate offender clerks; provide appropriate services to offenders on behavioral management plans;
Interview and provide assistance to offenders pursuant to program policies and procedures;
Responsible for more than one facility law library;
Other duties/projects as assigned by supervisor.
Note: Occasional travel required to provide coverage for other CDOC Facilities throughout the state.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Education:
A paralegal certificate and transcripts from an accredited college or university in a paralegal studies program (copies of which must be scanned, uploaded and attached to your application in order to receive credit and if you wish to be considered for this position)
Substitution:
Two (2) years of work experience in a paralegal capacity which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources.
Required Competencies:
Proficient legal research skills;
Exceptional interpersonal/customer service skills;
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Efficient and accurate analyzing of data/information skills;
Keen ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility;
Impeccable organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills;
Precise attention to details;
Strong initiative and self motivation;
Effective critical thinking and decision making;
Established proficiency in position-related office technologies especially Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred Qualifications:
(Candidates may receive higher ratings for possessing any preferred qualifications criteria.)
Recent paralegal work experience in Colorado state and federal court systems;
Ability to interpret complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines;
Advanced knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules.
ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Assessment Process: Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis. Part or all of the analysis for this position will include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions. Applications and responses will be reviewed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to cut to a top group for additional assessment; or to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager and final consideration.
Be sure the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and “see resume” statements will not be accepted in lieu of the “Work Experience” section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at
855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time)
Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt upload (attach) it.
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records**
Conditions of Employment
All job offers are contingent upon a satisfactory urinalysis (UA) within 24 hours of notification and a successful medical screening by a health care professional, certifying candidate’s ability to perform the essential functions of the position, completed at the applicant’s own expense. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the collection of specimens, testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC’s consideration of application for employment.
Must be 21 years of age;
Possess a valid State of Colorado Driver’s License;
Possess a High School Diploma or GED;
Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents.
Successfully complete the Department of Corrections Basic Training upon hire;
Possess the physical ability to successfully complete DefensiveTactics;
Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;
Swing a baton in a striking technique;
Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;
Positions that have direct contact with offenders may be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum
Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breeches in safety and security
Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;
Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;
Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;
Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;
Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
Willing and able to travel;
Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;
TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant’s background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges.
We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test will be administered at any part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, including marijuana, will be disqualified from consideration. Random drug screening will occur throughout employment.
Appeal Rights
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 633 17th Street, Suite 1320, Denver, CO 80202-3604. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. As of November 12, 2013, the Board will be located at 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80203. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.
Supplemental Information
After submitting an application, you should receive an immediate email acknowledging your submission. If you do not get the email, please check to ensure you have actually submitted the application and typed the correct email address on the application.
Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence WILL take place via email. You may receive email notifications from a Colorado Dept of Corrections employee or from this email address info@governmentjobs.com It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email; if you do not receive correspondence soon after the closing date, please contact the “Department Contact” listed in this announcement.
SCHEDULED DATES OF POSSIBLE APPLICANT ASSESSMENTS (I.E., EXAMS, ORAL BOARDS, AND WRITTEN EXAMS) WILL NOT BE MADE UP. IF YOU FAIL TO SHOW AT THE APPOINTED DATE/TIME, MAKE-UPS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
ALL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS ARE TOBACCO FREE.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PROTECTED CLASSES TO APPLY.