Inmate Law Library Coordinator

Full Job Description

Under minimal supervision, responsible for coordinating the Main Jail inmate law library services; maintains one or more inmate law libraries in the Department of Correction; and acts as departmental liaison for pro per related matters.

Requirements

• Operates and maintains Main Jail North/Main Jail South law libraries;
• Responsible for coordination of the entire pro per program at the Main Jail complex;
• Composes correspondence to the courts and performs related research;
• Interprets pro per related court orders, verifies inmate claims of pro per status, and informs inmates of their rights under the program;
• Interfaces with Superior Court staff regarding pro per matters involving filing writs of mandate/prohibition and habeas corpus, and investigates any discrepancies in court activity for pro per inmates;
• As a departmental expert, testifies in court regarding pro per inmate complaints re department's compliance with policies/procedures;
• Schedules inmate library usage;
• Handles grievances by investigating complaints from inmates regarding legal services/materials;
• Plans, organizes, and maintains the law library record keeping system relating to inmate use of law libraries for possible future court use;
• Plans for the continuing growth of the number of inmates in pro per status;
• Operates CJIC (Criminal Justice Information Control) computer system to verify housing of inmates, check sentencing and conviction dates, and track pro per inmate court activity;
• Prepares data and offers recommendations to Facility Commander and County Counsel in matters of inmate(s) civil lawsuits (U.S.C. 1983) against the County;
• Monitors law libraries for vandalism, ordering replacement volumes and other materials as required;
• Represents department at quarterly jail librarians' meetings throughout the state and consults with representatives from other facilities regarding pro per issues (e.g., legal rights, courts access) and jail libraries;
• Works as liaison between Friends Outside and Jail facility to ensure pro per inmates' copy work needs are met; and
• Performs other related work as required.

Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and work experience, which demonstrates the ability to perform the above tasks and possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

Knowledge of:

• A wide variety of civil and criminal law reading materials, including legal research materials and required volumes that comprise complete law libraries;
• Basic principles of law and legal terminology found in civil and criminal court documents;
• Civil and criminal court documents (e.g., writs and conviction orders) and functions and relationships of the criminal justice system, including Superior and Municipal Courts and law enforcement agencies;
• Basic library tools, methods, and procedures applicable to law libraries in a corrections environment;
• Procedures for filing writs and appeals to Appellate and District Courts;
• Court queries and computer terminology used by Superior Court, CJIC, and SLETS (Sheriff's Law Enforcement Telecommunications System).

Ability to:

• Organize and coordinate inmate law library services;
• Establish cooperative working relationships with employees in a correctional environment and others contacted in the course of work; deal tactfully with inmates who become hostile or emotionally upset;
• Work with inmates to resolve issues pertaining to inmate rights vs. departmental policies and procedures;
• Reason logically, adapt to varying circumstances, use sound judgment in the performance of duties, and make effective decisions regarding inmate law library issues;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Work independently, as well as with others, with minimal supervision;
• Read, interpret, and properly apply rules, regulations, laws, and policies;
• Collect, assemble, and analyze basic data and perform basic case research;
• Understand and comprehend all processes (motions, discovery, etc.) available to pro per and other inmates regarding their legal defense;
• Work independently, as well as with others, with minimal supervision;
• Research specific issues and requests from pro per inmates;
• Operate criminal justice computer terminal;
• Plan and organize work in the pro per area and maintain productivity and accuracy in its implementation.