Tara Croom-Randle
Summary
Detail-oriented Investigator with strong leadership skills and proficient in collecting and reviewing documents, analyzing evidence, critical thinking and preparing reports. Offering exceptional communication skills and network of community resources. Well-versed in assisting law enforcement in cases.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
APS Specialist V
State Of Texas Dept. Family & Protective Services
Arlington, TX
03.2022 - Current
- Performance of advanced adult protective services work that involves investigating and analyzing the individual needs of APS clients with regard to abuse, neglect or exploitation; and making a service plan to address A/N/E as appropriate for adults with disabilities and the elderly; monitoring and overseeing casework activities.
- Conduct special projects to define program issues.
- Serves as a liaison with community groups related to adult welfare.
- Addresses community groups on agency programs, resources, and limitations.
- Develop community resources to serve the needs of clients.
- Testify in court as appropriate.
- Determines temporary or long-term action to be taken to remove or lessen an immediate threat to the life or health of an adult protective services client to include conducting a thorough investigation, requesting bank records, LE reports, medical records, developing a service plan with clients and caregivers input, providing information and referral services, testifying in court, seeking court orders pertaining to APS casework, seeking least restrictive alternatives to guardianship, and initializing ongoing services.
- Develops individualized service plans to meet the needs of the adult protective services client and maintains detailed documentation on each case.
- Makes presentations and participates in community awareness and related activities to inform the public about the program.
- Serves in lead capacity in absence of supervisor.
- Travels throughout district to investigate A/N/E.
- Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain operations.
- Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among co-workers and all work-related contacts.
- Works collaboratively with Law Enforcement and prosecution to achieve best outcomes for clients that have been victims of exploitation.
District Unit Supervisor
State Of Texas Department Of Criminal Justice
Mineral Wells, Texas
10.2021 - 03.2022
- Performance of highly complex parole administration and supervision work such as reviewing and approving parole supervision activities, parole investigations, parole release plans and reports; coordinating case assignments; conducting case analyses; and supervising the work of others.
- Plans, schedules, and supervises parole officer activities; coordinates parole supervision activities with other units, departments, and entities; and assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures
- Visits offender residences, jails, correctional facilities, courthouses, social services, and other agencies to obtain offender information, coordinate parole investigations, and to resolve problems.
- Conducts and supervises activities to monitor offender compliance with the conditions of supervision to include alcohol and drug testing.
- Performs criminal information searches and retrieval using Texas Department of Public Safety criminal history system access.
- Supervises the work of others; establishes and provides training to parole officers; reviews and evaluates documentation and recommendations; and counsels parole officers and offenders on difficult cases.
Alternative Response Specialist (CPS)
State Of Texas Dept. Family & Protective Services
Fort Worth, Texas
03.2021 - 10.2021
- Investigate claims of child abuse and neglect. They have the difficult task of figuring out what happened and predicting what will happen in the future.
- Conduct interviews and gather information to see if abuse or neglect happened and if intervention is necessary. As well as considering both risk and safety issues, and may recommend services for the child and family to reduce the risk of further abuse or neglect.
- Responds quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation.
- Conducts forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to children to determine if abuse or neglect occurred and conducts assessments to determine the current or future risk of harm to children.
- Observes children for signs of any harm and assess the signs to determine if they are the result of abuse or neglect. This could involve children with serious injuries and child fatalities.
- Interviews people in the case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation. This may include medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, etc.
- Determines action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.
- Documentation of all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.
Investigative agent
Cuyahoga County Board Of DD
Cleveland, Ohio
05.2019 - 03.2021
- Investigate major unusual incidents such as physical/verbal abuse, death,sexual assault, exploitation, unapproved behavior supports & neglect, and conduct all related follow up procedures in accordance with requirements specified in state rules and board policies and procedures.
- Complete a written investigative report, investigation summary, and other reports/documents as required by state rules and board policies and procedures for every major unusual incident.
- Complete all investigations, investigation reports and other documents within timeframes prescribed by state rules
- Testify on behalf of CCBDD in case proceedings as necessary
- Develop and maintain professional and collaborate relationships with providers, law enforcement agencies other as necessary
- Identify indicators of abuse and neglect and consumer mistreatment
State Parole Officer
State Of Ohio Dept. Of Parole & Community Services
Cleveland, Ohio
03.2017 - 05.2019
- Interviews, visits and observes offender s at residence/work site or other community locations.
- Utilizes evidence based supervision practices to facilitate behavioral change in offenders.
- Obtains certification in Ohio Risk Assessment System completes offender risk assessments as directed.
- Interviews offenders and reviews documents, records, and reports to develop case plans in conjunction with offenders to address identified risk factors.
- Maintains and reviews case plans with offenders throughout supervision period to gauge progress of established goals.
- Provides individual and group advice by listening, speaking and providing written instructions to offender s.
- Conducts visual and auditory surveillance which includes operating electronic monitor equipment as needed.
- Performs drug testing by collecting and transporting specimens or using drug kit procedures when necessary and maintains a written chain of evidence from sample collection through testing and hearing process.
- Conducts DNA testing as prescribed by statute.
- Finds employment and vocational opportunities for offender s by making referrals to community service agencies.
- Maintains contact with offender families, friends, employers and others by interviewing, observing behaviors and reviewing written documents and records.
- Develops sound caseload management involving analysis of caseload and making necessary community referrals in order to make adjustments in offender activity.
- Oversees caseload which requires special training to properly supervise substance abusers, drug offenders, sex offenders, special releases and special needs offenders as needed.
- Conducts and completes placement, arrest and violation investigations by interviewing individuals, reading and understanding technical information including medical, psychological, law enforcement and legal documents.
- Completes, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating appropriate reports of investigations making correctional recommendations to be used in decisions of judges, parole administrators or parole board members in sentencing and revocation procedures.
- Travel to offender homes, places of employment, jails and courts etc. by operating personal or state vehicle.
- Prepares information and initiates packets for Parole Board Hearings.
- Screens inmates to determine eligibility and makes recommendations for transfer into transitional control program.
- Responds in writing to inmate inquiries (i.e. kites).
- Conducts and completes clemency and other investigations by interviewing individuals, reading and understanding technical information including medical, psychological, law enforcement and legal documents.
- Completes, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating appropriate reports of investigations to be used in decisions and/or recommendations of parole board members.
- Facilitates special hearings (i.e. clemency, full board ) when needed.
- Completes, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, and delivers written arrest, hold and release orders.
- Secures and delivers search warrants and subpoenas to jails and law enforcement, correctional and court agencies.
- Pursues declared violators-at-large, arrests violators and conducts search and seizure of contraband which involves walking, running, climbing, crawling, bending, stooping, lifting or using force such as applying unarmed self-defense techniques or using restraining devices like handcuffs, belly chains or leg irons and OC spray/pepper gas as needed.
- Develops and presents cases at revocation hearings.
- Collects evidence.
- Organizes written documents, records and reports.
- Examines and cross examines witnesses.
- Testifies as required.
- Operates personal or state vehicle to transport witnesses or violators or other releases.
- Provides work direction and trains staff as necessary through conducting orientation of new staff, on-the-job training and in-service training.
- Completes, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, lesson plans and documents training activities.
- Oversees outpost office which consists of two to three less experienced staff as required.
- Completes, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, background investigations on prospective employees.
- Develops sound working relations with community agencies, citizen groups and criminal justice agencies to secure community resources for benefit of clients.
- Writes or dictates speeches and presentations for authorized speaking engagements.
- Participates on community councils and committees.
- Functions on an inter-agency level as coordinator with halfway houses and prevention programs.
- Acts as liaison with state hospitals to accomplish appropriate level of services for clients.
- Presents pre-release programs at penal institutions from written presentation guide or lesson plan.
- Travels to and participates in staff meetings, conferences and training session .
C.O., Lieutenant, Program Specialist
State Of Ohio Dept. Of Rehabilitation & Correction
Cleveland, Ohio
01.2008 - 11.2017
- Financial associate, State of Ohio Northeast Reintegration, Administrative Professional I Unit Management, State of Ohio Northeast Reintegration
- Correctional Lieutenant, State of Ohio Grafton Correctional Institution, Correctional Officer, State of Ohio Northeast Reintegration Center
- Supervise other correctional staff, make daily schedules, complete yearly evaluations of Correctional Officers including but not limited to making decisions and problem solving for staff and inmates
- Conduct pre-sentence, offender background & other comprehensive investigations
- Prepare comprehensive reports, prepares information as needed for parole board hearings
- Attends staff meetings, conferences & training sessions; communicates & develops supervision plans with supervisor, program staff & community agencies; develops & maintains public relations with community agencies & citizens groups through speaking engagements & membership on community councils & committees; responds to inquiries about offenders; complies with all department of rehabilitation & correction's division policies & administrative regulations
- Oversees & directs assigned caseload activities of offenders to include employment & vocational opportunities, referrals to community service agencies
- Supervise daily routines of inmates, conduct inmate count times, run daily operations of housing unit activities, ensure the safety and security of fellow staff and inmates
- Maintain accurate inventories of supplies and chemicals within institution
- Facilitate victim awareness classes to inmates
- Provides work direction & training to other parole officers &/or clerical staff as necessary; operates personal computer in order to input &/or verify information about offenders; maintains offender files & investigation reports; enforces court orders pertaining to child support &/or crime victim restitution, court costs, fines, fees, &/or other financial sanctions of offenders
- Facilitate yearly in-service classes to fellow staff
- Program facilitator for Thinking for a Change, Decision Points, Victim Awareness
- Conduct Home Visits and Community Site visits
- Sit on the Rule and Infraction Board
- Handle victim/ offender issues through the Office of Victim Services
- CIST member and Crisis Negotiator
- Prepare offenders for release my preparing post release control and transitional control packets, scan, fax file with the usage of the ONBASE and ODRC Gateway, ORAS
- Create reports monthly, weekly, and quarterly reports
- I plan events for staff as well as inmates, facilitate programming such as victim awareness
- I handle issues, questions, and situations relating to community connections and reintegration reentry such as Citizens Circle
- Function in multiple functions in personnel such as processing payroll paperwork, usage of the Kronos system and OAKS to find, correct ad verify multiple payroll coding, I review timesheets for errors and prepare weekly reports of overtime, staff grievances, EEO complaints
- Handle sensitive information for staff
- Process offender visitation forms to include screening applicants for errors and false information
- Processing of a variety of form including various affidavits and power of attorney forms
Banker-Teller Manager
Charter One Bank
Richmond Heights, Ohio
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Maintain quarterly goals; perform monthly/quarterly audits on tellers, negotiable items, ATM machines, vaults, & corrective actions
- Assist customers in routine daily banking functions as well as solving problems, supervise tellers and make sure that the proper procedures and guidelines are being performed to ensure customer satisfaction and regulations are complied with
- Train and coach new employees
- Hold daily warm ups/cool downs and set focus for the day
- Filed affidavits
- Notary public.
Education
MBA -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, IN12.2017
Bachelor of Social Science - Criminal Justice
Ohio University
Athens, OH12.2015
Associate of Applied Science - Law Enforcement
Cuyahoga Community College
Cleveland, OH05.2012
Skills
- Victim Services Facilitator of Victim & Trauma related programs
- Chief Hostage Negotiator/Instructor
- Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS) certified
- CJIS Security Training
- Victim Coordinator, Victim Support Person (PREA)
- Certified w/basic and Advanced CIM
- NIMS ICS 100,200,700,800 Series
- Forensic Interviewer Certification
- Thinking For a Change Program Facilitator
Affiliations
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated
- P.A.C.E Professional Alliance of Correctional Employees in 2009 and 2010
- State of Ohio Corrections Officer of the Year 2011
- 2007 Sabbatical Recipient of the Year for Charter One Bank
Certification
Timeline
APS Specialist V
State Of Texas Dept. Family & Protective Services
03.2022 - Current
District Unit Supervisor
State Of Texas Department Of Criminal Justice
10.2021 - 03.2022
Alternative Response Specialist (CPS)
State Of Texas Dept. Family & Protective Services
03.2021 - 10.2021
Investigative agent
Cuyahoga County Board Of DD
05.2019 - 03.2021
State Parole Officer
State Of Ohio Dept. Of Parole & Community Services
03.2017 - 05.2019
C.O., Lieutenant, Program Specialist
State Of Ohio Dept. Of Rehabilitation & Correction
01.2008 - 11.2017
Banker-Teller Manager
Charter One Bank
01.2004 - 01.2008
MBA -
Indiana Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Social Science - Criminal Justice
Ohio University
Associate of Applied Science - Law Enforcement
Cuyahoga Community College
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