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Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist

People convicted of crimes are often placed on probation, and convicted criminals are sometimes released early from prison and placed on parole. During periods of probation and parole, participants must not commit any crimes or break any rules of their parole or probation. Parole and probation officers monitor the progress of those required to participate in parole or probation.

Probation officers, known as community supervision officers in some states, supervise individuals required to be on probation. Correctional treatment specialists, also known as case managers, assist individuals and devise plans for convicted criminals when their parole has ended. Parole officers have the same responsibilities as probation officers except they work with individuals recently released from prison. Pretrial service officers conduct investigations to determine whether individuals awaiting trials should be released prior to the trial.

Parole and probation officers meet personally with offenders and their families, often in their homes or places of work. Probation and parole officers often work with community and church groups to monitor offenders’ behavior. Certain offenders are required to wear tracking devices such as ankle bracelets to monitor their location. Parole and probation officers usually exclusively work with juveniles or adults, but in more rural areas, they may work with both. Some states combine both age groups. Probation and parole officers may also arrange for their clients to enter drug treatment or vocational training programs.

Probation officers also work for courts writing reports, recommending sentences, and conducting investigations into offenders’ backgrounds. They discuss their sentencing recommendations with offenders and their families prior to submitting to the court. Probation officers may also testify at court or probation hearings, updating the court of the offender’s progress.

Correctional treatment specialists can be found in prisons or parole and probation agencies. Specialists working in prisons, determine inmates’ progress, using questionnaires and psychological examinations. They work with inmates and probation officers to coordinate release dates. Correctional treatment specialists prepare for parole boards and prepare reports detailing the offender’s history and chances for repeating their crimes known as case reports. They also coordinate drug treatment, anger management, and work training programs for those on parole. Correctional treatment specialists working for parole or probation agencies have similar responsibilities as those working in prisons.

The type of offenders correctional treatment specialists supervise determines their case load. Offenders who pose a higher risk to society require more of the specialist’s time. Correctional treatment specialists may handle 20-100 cases at any given time.

Technology, such as computers and fax machines, has made it possible for officers to take on more cases and telecommunicate from home. Electronic monitoring technology, such as ankle bracelets, has made offender supervision easier.

Pretrial service officers conduct investigations to determine whether individuals awaiting trials should be released prior to the trial. If suspects are released prior to trial, they are supervised by pretrial service officers who must ensure they appear at trial. Probation officers working for the federal court system have the same responsibilities of pretrial service officers.

Work environment. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists often work with dangerous criminals. They often have to work with angry or difficult to work with families. Officers often work in areas with a lot of crime as well as high levels of communicable diseases.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists usually have large case loads because they must meet court sanctioned deadlines. They must also travel a lot to meet with offenders and carry guns for protection. Officers and specialists also collect and transport urine samples. The job can be difficult, but rewarding as well, since officers and specialists help people change their lives.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists usually work 40 hour weeks but are required to be on call 24 hours a day.