Parole Officer

Pursue a Career as Parole Officer

The main role of a parole officer is to supervise offenders placed on probation (people who fulfill the terms of court-ordered sentences) and parolees (people who are released from prison to fulfill parole-board-ordered sentences). Parole has been abolished in the federal corrections system.

Serving as links to a variety of social services, the parole officer tries to help his or her clients secure the education, counseling, jobs, and housing necessary to become fully rehabilitated. The parole officer is also responsible for meeting the offenders in their homes and at their place of employment or therapy, and may deal with anywhere from 20 to 300 active cases at one time.

Based on the investigative work performed by the parole officer, he or she develops reports to give to the judge containing the information needed to make an appropriate sentence for each offender. The parole officer may also be called upon to testify at pretrial and parole board hearings to help explain these reports. In addition, they are also responsible for investigating any violations of court-ordered sentences.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a parole officer, you’ll need a four-year college degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field. Many parole officers have Masters degrees in Criminal Justice, Social Work, or Psychology. Federal officers must have at least two years of experience. Most parole officers work as trainees for about six months, then obtain a permanent position. A typical agency has several parole officer levels as well as supervisors.

For licensing and certification, at minimum, once must be a United States citizen, over 20 years old, not be a convicted felon, have a Bachelors degree, and pass several competitive oral, written, psychological, and physical examinations. Some states do require those interested in becoming a parole officer to take certification tests during or after the completion of training.

As for salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, correctional treatment specialists earned between $40,270 and $49,030 in 2000. Higher wages tend to be found in urban areas.

Featured Criminal Justice School

The Brown Mackie College system of schools offers bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and diploma and certificates in Criminal Justice.* The Criminal Justice programs at the Brown Mackie College schools provide a solid foundation for those who seek employment in criminal justice systems, including the field of corrections and the court systems.

The programs focus on the development of real-world knowledge of the criminal justice system and explore the social, legal and technological challenges of the field. Graduates will be prepared to pursue entry-level positions or to apply their understanding of criminology, the judicial process, corrections and criminal law to their current job.

* Not all credential levels are offered at each location. Program availability varies by location.

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