Independently directs the care, custody, evaluation, treatment, and community liaison for an assigned outpatient and/or inpatient group of offenders at a mental health hospital treatment center for court-committed sexual or mentally ill offenders utilizing group therapy techniques. May serve as an expert witness in court hearings.

Counseling is also provided to the committed offenders' families.

Observes, interviews, gathers data about, evaluates, and directs the treatment of each offender assigned to a treatment group;

Guides and directs a group of offenders in individual and group psychotherapy; supervises inpatient, work-release, and outpatient treatment groups; conducts individuals and group therapy sessions for offenders or offenders and their spouses;

Communicates and works with judges, prosecuting attorneys, probation officers, physicians, agencies and institutions regarding the admission, evaluation, treatment, and discharge of offenders;

Participates in program-wide clinical and administrative meetings; presents cases before review committees; prepares and maintains progress reports and records;

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge of: treatment values and objectives; laws, regulations and procedures related to legal offenders; individual and group behavior; hospital and community resources, methods of gathering and organizing personality and social data.

Ability to: recognize and interpret deviant behavior, relate to people with psychological understanding, personal honesty and concern; build motivating rapport with offenders; work effectively with professional people; appraise persons and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; speak effectively.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor's degree with major study in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Criminology, or Law Enforcement and one year of experience providing group therapy for juvenile, or adult offenders, or the mentally ill; or one year of mental health, criminal justice or social service experience which shall include experience providing mental health treatment to groups and/or individuals.

A Master's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Criminology, or Law Enforcement, or allied field.

Note: Mental health treatment is defined as any experience where responsibilities have included mental health treatment planning, mental health program implementation and/or direct delivery of client mental health services including both individual and group counseling.

Note: For specific programs, specialized training and/or experience may be required for eligibility for examination or appointment.