5H15
DEPUTY PRISONS COMMISSIONER

This is correctional management work at the Deputy Commissioner level directing and coordinating programs and operations in the City's prison facilities. Employees in this class are responsible for directing either the operational aspects of correctional institutions, the administrative and general support units of the department, the restorative and transitional services programs or the policy development, program planning and court liaison functions. Supervision of a major segment of the department and contact with other City officials and representatives of court and criminal justice system agencies to insure interagency cooperation in coordinating program development and implementation and resolve common problems are major aspects of the work. Employees are required to be on-call at all times and to report to work when required. Work is performed under the direction of the Prisons Commissioner.

• No more than four positions may be allocated to this class.
• A position in this class must report directly to the Prisons Commissioner and be responsible for directing prison operations, administrative services, restorative and transitional services, or policy and planning functions.

Directs a major division of the Philadelphia Prison system; directs prisons operations, administrative services, restorative and transitional services or policy development and program planning divisions of the Philadelphia Prisons through subordinate managers; confers with subordinate supervisors and managers on unit activities and problems; consults on the interpretation and application of departmental policies; coordinates activities with other departmental units; develops and implements changes in procedures, training and deployment of personnel.

Directs daily operations of prison facilities through facility Wardens; tours correctional facilities to ascertain compliance with established standards of security, housekeeping and maintenance; investigates and evaluates infractions; insures that corrective actions are taken; prepares the Prison system emergency response plan for events such as riots and natural disasters; directs the activities of special operational units, such as bike patrol, transportation, and the emergency response team; directs the activities of the Classification, Movement and Registrar (CMR) unit; manages maintenance and capital improvement of Prison facilities; provides direction to medical and food service contracts.

Develops recommendations to modify or establish departmental goals, objectives and policies; evaluates operations and programmatic efficiency of units in relation to departmental goals and standards of performance; develops recommendation for changes in operations and appropriate actions for rectifying compliance problems with court directed mandates; develops, reports and analyzes performance measures; proposes revisions to policies and procedures based on performance measures.

Directs a large social services staff engaged in providing a variety of on-going social services to inmates, including intake and needs assessment, prerelease social transition services, employment counseling and development services, and representation at prison disciplinary hearings; prepares recommendations to institute training programs for the social services staff; formulates supervisory policies and procedures; directs development and implementation of programs designed to encourage successful reintegration of offenders into the community; coordinates activities with a variety of community groups, government agencies and social service organizations; directs provision of behavioral health services to inmates.

Functions as liaison between the Prisons and court and law enforcement agencies; meets with appropriate representatives to discuss policies and programs and enhance interagency cooperation and coordination; discusses problems encountered by prison administrators in complying with court mandates.

Directs the preparation and administration of the operating budget for the prison system; directs the activities of information technology unit; defines information technology services and reports required to comply with court mandated requests for information; directs sharing of information with other government agencies; directs all human resources functions, including hiring, staff deployment, payroll, labor relations and staff discipline.

Chairs departmental disciplinary and administrative boards; responds to emergency situations in prison facilities; represents the commissioner at official functions and meetings with other agencies.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Modern correctional institution management principles, practices, methods and techniques
• Theory, principles and practices of modern penology
• Institutional security and the methods of maintaining discipline among persons under restraint
• Risks encountered in a correctional setting, and the strategies and techniques available to reduce and control the risks.
• Methods and procedures used in planning, developing, implementing and coordinating non-security related inmate services
• Rules, regulations and statutory laws governing correctional institution operation
• Principles and practices of public administration
• Supervisory principles and practices
• Principles, theories and methods of organizational planning and analysis
• Budgeting
• Development, reporting, and analysis of performance measures
• Computer software required by the assignment
• City laws, ordinances, regulations and labor contracts related to human resources in the Prison system
SKILL IN:
• evaluating the effectiveness of prison operations and in making procedural changes to provide efficient and effective operations
• coordinating the activities of the organization with intra and extra departmental agencies
ABILITY TO:
• Direct the activities of a large staff engaged in providing operational and/or support services for correctional facilities
• Learn, interpret and coordinate the implementation of court directed mandates
• Evaluate information and evidence and to make logical conclusions
• Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Interpret data and recommend changes to policies and procedures

EDUCATION

Completion of a graduate degree program in a relevant field at an accredited college or university.

AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Ten years of experience in a correctional institution.

AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

Two years of experience as a Warden or directing, through subordinate supervisors, a variety of inmate social service and treatment programs.

OR


Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department that has included a bachelor’s degree and the specific experience described above.

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.