• Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with criminal offenders, some of whom may be dangerous.
• A bachelor's degree in social work, criminal justice, or a related field usually is required. Good employment opportunities are expected.

Many people who are convicted of crimes are placed on probation instead of being sent to prison. During probation, offenders must stay out of trouble and meet various other requirements. Probation officers, who also may be referred to as community supervision officers in some States, supervise people who have been placed on probation. Parole officers perform many of the same duties that probation officers perform. However, parole officers supervise offenders who have been released from prison on parole to ensure that they comply with the conditions of their parole. In some States, the job of parole and probation officer is combined.

Probation and parole officers supervise offenders on probation or parole through personal contact with the offender and his or her family. Some offenders are required to wear an electronic device so that probation officers can monitor their activities. Officers may arrange for offenders to get substance abuse rehabilitation or job training. They also attend court hearings to update the court on the offender's compliance with the terms of his or her sentence and on the offender's efforts at rehabilitation.

Probation officers also spend much of their time working for the courts. They investigate the background of offenders brought before the court, write presentence reports, and make sentencing recommendations for each offender. Officers review sentencing recommendations with offenders and their families before submitting them to the court. Officers may be required to testify in court as to their findings and recommendations.

Probation officers usually work with either adults or juveniles exclusively. Only in small, usually rural jurisdictions do probation officers counsel both adults and juveniles. Occasionally, in the Federal courts system, probation officers may undertake the job of a pretrial services officer. Pretrial services officers conduct pretrial investigations and make bond recommendations for defendants.

Correctional treatment specialists work in correctional institutions (jails and prisons) or in parole or probation agencies. In jails and prisons, they evaluate the progress of inmates. They also work with inmates, probation officers, and other agencies to develop parole and release plans. Their case reports are provided to the appropriate parole board when their clients are eligible to be released. In addition, they plan educational and training programs to provide offenders with job skills, and counsel offenders either individually or in groups regarding their coping skills, anger management skills, and drug or sexual abuse. They usually write treatment plans and summaries for each client. Correctional treatment specialists working in parole and probation agencies perform many of the same duties as their counterparts who work in correctional institutions. Correctional treatment specialists may also be known as case managers or drug treatment specialists.

The number of cases a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist handles at one time depends on the counseling needs of offenders and the risks they pose. Higher-risk offenders and those who need a greater amount of counseling usually command more of the officer's time and resources. Caseload size also varies by jurisdiction of the agency. Consequently, officers may handle from 20 to more than 300 active cases at a time.

The nature of the work of many probation officers and correctional treatment specialists has been affected by recent changes in the parole and probation system brought about by public debate on the proper role of prisons, probation, and parole. This has resulted in more community involvement on the part of probation and parole officers in many jurisdictions. Instead of requiring offenders to meet officers in their offices, many officers are going into the community to meet the offenders in their homes and at their places of employment or therapy. Probation and parole agencies also are employing the assistance of community organizations, such as religious institutions, neighborhood groups, and local residents, to monitor the behavior of many offenders. The ability to do this additional fieldwork is facilitated by telecommuting methods, such as the use of computers, phones, and faxes. Probation officers also may telecommute from their own homes. Other technological advancements, such as electronic monitoring devices and drug screening, also have assisted probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in supervising and counseling offenders.

A debate also has emerged about privatizing the probation and parole systems. Many services, such as emotional counseling, job training, drug rehabilitation, and urine testing, already are contracted out to private firms. Some States, including Georgia and Tennessee, have already completely privatized some of their probation agencies. Another recent trend in corrections has involved abolishing parole, either altogether or for certain crimes. In some cases, States have placed many restrictions on the types of offenders who can be paroled and on how much of their sentence must be completed before being paroled. In States where parole has been abolished, another form of supervised release has been established.

In addition, extensive travel and fieldwork may be required to meet with offenders who are on probation or parole. Workers may be required to carry a firearm or other weapon for protection. Workers generally work a 40-hour workweek, but some may work longer. They may be on call 24 hours a day to supervise and assist offenders at any time. They also may be required to collect and transport urine samples of offenders for drug testing.

Applicants usually are administered written, oral, psychological, and physical examinations. Most probation officers and some correctional treatment specialists are required to complete a training program sponsored by their State government or the Federal Government. A certification test also may be required in some States during or after the completion of training.

Prospective probation officers or correctional treatment specialists should be in good physical and emotional condition. Most agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old and, for Federal employment, not older than 37. Those convicted of felonies may not be eligible for employment in this occupation. Familiarity with the use of computers often is required due to the increasing use of computer technology in probation and parole work. Candidates also should be knowledgeable about laws and regulations pertaining to corrections. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists should possess strong writing skills due to the large numbers of reports they are required to prepare.

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work as trainees for about 6 months. After successfully completing the training period, workers obtain a permanent position. A typical agency has several levels of probation and parole officers and correctional treatment specialists, as well as supervisors. A graduate degree, such as a master's degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology, may be helpful for advancement.

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. Despite recent decreases in the crime rate, vigorous law enforcement is expected to result in a continuing increase in the prison population. Overcrowding in prisons also has increased the probation population, as judges and prosecutors search for alternate forms of punishments, such as electronic monitoring and day reporting centers. The number of offenders released on parole is expected to increase to create room for other offenders in prison. The increasing prison, parole, and probation populations should spur more demand for probation and parole officers and correctional treatment specialists.

In addition to openings due to growth, many openings will be created by replacement needs, especially openings due to the large number of these workers who are expected to retire over the projection period.

The job outlook depends on the amount of government funding that is allocated to corrections, and especially to probation systems. Although community supervision is far less expensive than keeping offenders in prison, a change in political trends toward more imprisonment and away from community supervision could result in reduced employment opportunities.

Probation officers and correctional treatment also play a major role in maintaining public safety. Other occupations related to corrections and law enforcement include police and detectives, correctional officers, and firefighting occupations.

Further information about probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is available from:

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