Probation Officers

Career summary

#No alternate titles CJ

There are three types of officers who work with offenders:

• Probation officers
• Parole officers
• Correctional treatment specialists

Probation officers

Probation officers assist offenders who are sentenced to probation. They provide resources to offenders to help in their rehabilitation. They discuss treatment options and arrange for offenders to enter treatment programs. They write reports that outline the offender's progress. Probation officers usually work with juveniles or adults. Some work with both.

Parole officers

Parole officers supervise offenders who have been released from prison on parole. They help people re-enter society. They carefully monitor parolees and lead them to services such as substance abuse treatment or job training. They also help them find medical treatment or housing.

Correctional treatment specialists

Correctional treatment specialists counsel offenders in jail. They write reports used by parole boards to determine if a prisoner should be released. They also help them plan for their release. They assess offenders to find out what type of services they will need when they are released from jail or prison.

Probation and parole officers determine if their clients are making progress and following the conditions of their probation. They conduct regular interviews with their clients and also talk to family members or employers.

Probation officers who suspect violations or criminal behavior investigate offenders. They may require clients to have drug tests. Sometimes they recommend that offenders be returned to jail.

Some probation officers investigate offenders before they go to trial to see if they can stay in the community before their trial.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Addictions Counselors
• Arbitrators and Mediators
• Corrections Officers
• High School Teachers
• Human Resources Specialists
• Medical Assistants
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Residential Counselors
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• Social Workers

Military careers

• Caseworkers and Counselors

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to probation officers.

• Make recommendations to court or parole board when terms of probation are not followed.
• Conduct follow-up interviews to determine needs, problems, and social progress.
• Prepare reports and maintain case folders for all assigned clients.
• Write reports about clients' progress.
• Supervise offenders, including people on electronically-monitored home detention.
• Inform offenders of the requirements of their releases, such as office visits or payments to victims.
• Determine if inmates are suitable for parole.
• Provide guidance and counseling.
• Investigate suspected parole or probation violations or criminal behavior.
• Testify in court about offenders' backgrounds.
• Recommend where to place offender.
• Confer with clients' families to identify needs and problems.
• Develop plans and recommendations for offenders before their release.
• Develop relationships with other parole officers and community agencies.
• Arrange for services, such as employment and housing. Assist offenders in obtaining help.
• Help offenders with community service sentences find jobs.
• Create information packets for inmates and offenders.

Common work activities

Probation officers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Document and record information
• Use computers
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Evaluate information against standards
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform for or work with the public
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Process information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Schedule work and activities
• Think creatively
• Analyze data or information
• Perform administrative tasks
• Coach others
• Develop and build teams

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, probation officers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are placed in conflict situations with angry or discourteous offenders on a daily basis.
• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with offenders, attorneys, judges, and parole boards.
• Deal with physically aggressive or violent offenders on a daily basis.
• Are indirectly responsible for the public's safety. They are responsible for preventing their clients from committing future crimes.
• Are somewhat responsible for work outcomes.
• Communicate with clients and coworkers daily by telephone or in person.
• Write letters and memos on a daily basis.
• Often communicate with clients and coworkers by e-mail.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors, but also work outdoors to visit or monitor clients.
• Are exposed to diseases and infections on a daily basis. They may supervise clients who are ill.
• Almost always use a vehicle to visit or monitor clients.
• Sometimes are exposed to contaminants.
• Work near other people, but usually have a few feet of space separating them from others.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in performing the job. Errors could seriously endanger public safety.
• Repeat the same tasks over and over, such as visiting clients.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact clients. They can make most decisions without consulting with a supervisor.
• Are usually able to set most tasks for the day without talking to a supervisor. This is because they do many of the same tasks with each client.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a daily basis.
• Work in a moderately competitive atmosphere.

Hours/travel

• Usually work a regular 40-hour week.
• May be on-call 24 hours a day.
• May travel to visit clients. The amount of travel and field work depends on the assignment and the work location.

Physical demands

Probation officers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for probation officers to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for probation officers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.

Skills and abilities

Probation officers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Teach others how to do something.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Criminal Justice
• Social Work

Other programs of study to consider

• Addiction Counseling
• Corrections
• Law Enforcement and Police Science
• Psychology, General
• Public Administration
• Sociology

Training

To work as a probation officer, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or social work; and
• complete a state or federal training program.

Education after high school

Most probation officers have a bachelor's degree in social work or criminal justice. Some states require you to have one year of graduate study as well. Probation officers usually must also complete a state or federal training program.

Work experience

Some employers require probation officers to have three to four years of experience working in a related field.

On-the-job training

Most probation officers spend up to one month as a trainee. During training, you learn skills from experienced officers.

Military training

The military trains people to work as caseworkers and counselors. This occupation includes probation officers. Training lasts from eight to ten weeks. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Foreign Language
• Legal System
• Psychology
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers generally require probation officers to be at least 21 years of age and have a bachelor's degree. Preferred areas of study are behavioral sciences, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or a related field. Work experience in a corrections setting is also helpful. Employers look for probation officers with good people and computer skills. They also look for good writing and analytical skills. Probation officers must be able to be helpful to their clients. However, they must also be unbiased in their evaluation of clients' behavior.

Applicants are often given a written and oral exam. They may have to pass a psychological test. They may also have to pass a physical abilities test. Many employers have vision and hearing requirements similar to those for police officers. Most employers require a background check.

Jobs at higher levels often require a combination of at least one or two years of graduate study and related work experience. Employees may be required to provide their own transportation. A valid Washington State driver's license is required. Fluency in Spanish is essential in some cases. Some employers look for applicants who have chemical dependency counseling certification.

Tips

Competition for positions is keen and a master's degree will improve your chances of being hired. Experience working with people on a casework basis is helpful. Willingness to relocate may increase your chances of being hired, especially for entry-level positions. Volunteer experience or an internship with a community organization, such as a crisis or youth center, is helpful. Correct grammar, punctuation, and logical sentence structure are essential to good report writing. Get as much training related to assault, domestic violence, mental health, sexual abuse, and chemical dependency issues as possible. Basic diet and nutrition education is helpful for working with clients who are substance abusers.

Costs to workers

Officers may be required to join a union and pay quarterly dues. Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer. For example, large counties tend to pay more than smaller counties. State employers tend to pay higher wages than county employers.

Most probation officers receive good benefits. These usually include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. They also receive retirement and life insurance plans.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• State and local government agencies

National outlook

There will be below average growth in this occupation. Demand is dependent on government spending for corrections. More inmates are put into programs where they may be monitored electronically or allowed to work. Probation officers will be needed to monitor offenders who participate in either of these programs. Additional probation officers will be needed to monitor those who finish their prison time.

Job opportunities occur as people leave this occupation. It has high turnover due to it being a stressful job.

Other resources

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 

American Correctional Association 
206 North Washington Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.222.5646
703.224.0000

American Probation and Parole Association 
701 E. 22nd Street
Suite 110
Lombard, IL 60148
859.244.8203

American Society of Criminology 
1314 Kinnear Road, Suite 212
Columbus, OH 43212
614.292.9207

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission 
19010 - 1st Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148
206.835.7300

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (21-1092.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Correctional-treatment Specialist (195.107-042) 
• Preparole-counseling Aide (195.367-026) 
• Prisoner-classification Interviewer (166.267-022) 
• Probation-and-parole Officer (195.107-046) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Enterprising/Conventional

COPSystem

• Service Professional