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When a person is convicted of a crime, they are either placed on probation, or sent to prison. Those who are sent to prison are often released early on parole. During probation and parole, offenders must meet various requirements set forth by the courts and most importantly, stay out of trouble. Probation officers and parole officers, work with police officers, and supervise and monitor offenders to prevent them from committing new crimes. Their main role is to help offenders to become contributing members of society.
The terms Probation Officers, and Parole Officers are often used interchangeably, they are both important jobs in criminal justice, but they are actually two separate jobs. Both jobs perform similar duties, but there is a significant difference between the two: Probation officers supervise people who have been placed on probation. Parole officers supervise offenders who have been released from prison. In most jurisdictions, probation is a county function and parole is a State function. In some States, the jobs of parole and probation officers are combined.
Officers usually work exclusively with either adults or juveniles, not both. Only in small, rural, area do probation or parole officers counsel both adults and juveniles.
Parole or probation officers supervise offenders on probation or parole through personal contact, they do much more than simply monitor the offender. They will meet offenders in their homes, help them find employment and follow up with them at their new jobs or at their counseling, rehab or therapy appointments. Some offenders are required to wear an electronic device so their parole officers can monitor their location and movements. Parole officers may help offenders to get substance abuse rehabilitation or job training. Parole officers also spend much of their time working for the courts investigating the backgrounds of the accused, writing reports, and recommending sentences. Parole officers may be required to testify in court and will usually attend hearings to update the court on offenders’ efforts and progress.
Parole officers are generally very busy, stressed, and work long work weeks. The number of cases a probation officer handles at one time depends on the needs of offenders and the risks they pose. Higher risk offenders and those who need more counseling usually command more of the officer’s time and resources. Caseload size also varies by agency jurisdiction. But officers may handle anywhere from 20 to more than 100 active cases at a time.
One perk to the job of a probation officer is they can often work from their homes or while on the road. Technology helps parole officers keep their eyes and ears in more places then once. Today, they have the use of electronic monitoring devices, reporting kiosks, and drug screening, to officers in supervising offenders.
