Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Summary

Probation officers meet with offenders to ensure that the requirements of their probation are being met.

Quick Facts: Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
2010 Median Pay	$47,200 per year $22.69 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Short-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	93,200
Job Outlook, 2010-20	18% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	17,100

What Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Do

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with and monitor offenders to prevent them from committing new crimes.

Work Environment

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with criminal offenders, some of whom may be dangerous. Workers in this occupation must meet many court-imposed deadlines, which contributes to heavy workloads and extensive paperwork. Many officers travel, especially those who work in rural areas.

How to Become a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist

Qualifications vary by agency, but a bachelor's degree is usually required. Most employers require candidates to pass oral, written, and psychological exams.

Pay

The median annual wage of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $47,200 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for probation and parole services will lead to new openings for officers.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about probation officers and correctional treatment specialists by contacting these additional resources.

What Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Do About this section

Correctional treatment specialists counsel offenders and create rehabilitation plans for them to follow when they are no longer in prison.

Many people who are convicted of crimes are placed on probation, instead of being sent to prison. People who have served time in prison are often released on parole. During probation and parole—and while they are in prison—offenders must stay out of trouble and meet other requirements. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with and monitor offenders to prevent them from committing new crimes.

Duties

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically do the following:

• Evaluate offenders to determine the best course of treatment
• Provide offenders with resources to aid in rehabilitation
• Discuss treatment options with offenders
• Arrange treatment programs
• Supervise offenders and monitor their progress
• Conduct meetings with offenders as well as their family and friends
• Write reports on the progress of offenders

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with offenders who are given probation instead of jail time, who are still in prison, or who have been released from prison. The following are types of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists:

Probation officers, who are called community supervision officers in some states, supervise people who have been placed on probation. They work to ensure that the offender is not a danger to the community and to help in their rehabilitation. Probation officers write reports that detail each offender’s treatment plans and their progress since they were put on probation. Most probation officers work with either adults or juveniles. Only in small, mostly rural, jurisdictions do probation officers counsel both adults and juveniles.

Pretrial services officers investigate an offender’s background to determine if that offender can be safely allowed back into the community before his or her trial date. They must assess the risk and make a recommendation to a judge who decides on the appropriate sentencing or bond amount. When offenders are allowed back into the community, pretrial officers supervise them to make sure that they stay with the terms of their release and appear at their trials.

Parole officers work with people who have been released from jail and are serving parole to help them re-enter society. Parole officers monitor post-release offenders and provide them with various resources, such as substance abuse counseling or job training, to aid in their rehabilitation. By doing so, the officers try to change the offenders’ behavior and thus reduce the risk of that person committing another crime and having to return to jail or prison.

Both probation and parole officers supervise offenders though personal contact with the offenders and their families. Probation and patrol officers require regularly scheduled contact with offenders by telephone or through office visits, and they may also check on offenders at their homes or places of work. Probation and parole officers also oversee drug testing and electronic monitoring of offenders. In some states, officers do the jobs of both probation and parole officers.

Correctional treatment specialists, who also may be known as case managers or correctional counselors, counsel offenders and develop rehabilitation plans for them to follow when they are no longer in prison or on parole. They may evaluate inmates using questionnaires and psychological tests. They also work with inmates, probation officers, and staff of other agencies to develop parole and release plans. For example, they may plan education and training programs to improve offenders' job skills.

Correctional treatment specialists write case reports that cover the inmate's history and the likelihood that he or she will commit another crime. When their clients are eligible for release, the case reports are given to the appropriate parole board. The specialist may help set up counseling for the offenders and their families, find substance-abuse or mental health treatment options, aid in job placement, and find housing.

Correctional treatment specialists also explain the terms and conditions of the prisoner’s release, write reports, and keep detailed written accounts of each offender’s progress. Specialists who work in parole and probation agencies have many of the same duties as their counterparts in correctional institutions.

The number of cases a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist handles at one time depends on the needs of offenders and the risks associated with each individual. Higher risk offenders usually command more of the officer's time and resources. Caseload size also varies by agency.

Technological advancements—such as improved tests for screening drug use, electronic devices to monitor clients, and kiosks that allow clients to check in remotely—help probation officers and correctional treatment specialists supervise and counsel offenders.

Work Environment About this section

Although work as a probation officer can be stressful, the work may also be rewarding.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists held about 93,200 jobs in 2010. They work with criminal offenders, some of whom may be dangerous. While supervising offenders, they may interact with others, such as family members and friends of their clients, who may be upset or difficult to work with. Workers may be assigned to fieldwork in high-crime areas or in institutions where there is a risk of violence or communicable disease.

In 2010, nearly all probation officers and correctional treatment specialists worked for either state or local governments:

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must meet many court-imposed deadlines, which contributes to heavy workloads and extensive paperwork. Many officers travel to do home and employment checks and property searches, especially in rural areas. Because of the hostile environments probation officers may encounter, some must carry a firearm or other weapon for protection.

All of these factors, as well as the frustration some officers and specialists feel in dealing with offenders who violate the terms of their release, contribute to a stressful work environment. Although the high stress levels can make the job difficult at times, this work also can be rewarding. Many officers and specialists receive personal satisfaction from counseling members of their community and helping them become productive citizens.

Work Schedules

Although many officers and specialists work full time, the demands of the job often lead to their working much longer hours. For example, many agencies rotate an on-call officer position. When these workers are on-call, they must respond to any issues with offenders or law enforcement 24 hours a day. Extensive travel and paperwork can also contribute to their having to work longer hours.

How to Become a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist About this section

Probation officers may go on to specialize in a certain type of casework, such as working with juvenile offenders.

Qualifications vary by agency, but a bachelor's degree is usually required. Most employers require candidates to pass oral, written, and psychological exams.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to effectively interact and communicate with a wide range of people.

Critical-thinking skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to assess the needs of individual offenders before determining the best resources for helping them.

Decision-making skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and be able to choose appropriately.

Emotional stability. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must cope with hostile or otherwise upsetting situations, as well as with other stresses on the job.

Organizational skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to manage multiple case files at one time.

Writing skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists interpret training materials and write detailed reports on a regular basis.

Education and Training

A bachelor's degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field is usually required. Some employers require a master's degree in a related field for candidates who do not have previous related work experience.

Although job requirements may vary, related work may include work in probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, substance abuse treatment, social work, or counseling. Work in any of these fields is typically considered a plus in the hiring process.

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must complete a training program sponsored by their state government or the federal government, after which they may have to pass a certification test. In addition, they may be required to work as trainees or on a probationary period for up to 1 year before being offered a permanent position.

Some probation officers go on to specialize in a certain type of casework. For example, an officer may work only with domestic violence offenders or deal only with substance-abuse cases. Officers receive training specific to the group that they are working with so that they are better prepared to help that type of offender.

Most agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old and, for federal employment, not older than 37 years of age. In addition, most departments require candidates to have a record free of felony convictions and to submit to drug testing. A valid driver’s license is often required.

Advancement

Advancement to supervisory positions is primarily based on experience and performance. A graduate degree, such as a master's degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology, may be helpful or required for advancement.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $47,200 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half of the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,920, and the top 10 percent earned more than $80,750.

Although many officers and specialists work full time, the demands of the job often lead to their working much longer hours. For example, many agencies rotate an on-call officer position. When these workers are on-call, they must respond to any issues with offenders or law enforcement 24 hours a day. Extensive travel and paperwork can also contribute to their having to work longer hours.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for probation and parole services will lead to new openings for officers.

Mandatory sentencing guidelines in the 1980s and 1990s called for longer sentences and reduced parole for some offenses, resulting in an increase in the prison population. However, these guidelines are being reconsidered at both the federal and state levels due to budgetary constraints, court decisions, prison overcrowding, and doubts about the guidelines’ effectiveness.

As guidelines are reduced or repealed, judges have more flexibility in sentencing offenders for each case. For offenders who are deemed to be a lower risk, this may result in less prison time, more community-based corrections, or some combination of the two.

As alternative forms of punishment, such as probation, become more widely used, the demand for probation and parole officers will grow. There also will be a need for parole and probation officers to supervise the large number of people who are now in prison when they are released.

Employment growth depends primarily on the amount of government funding for corrections, especially how much there is for probation and parole systems. Although community supervision is far less expensive than keeping offenders in prison, a change in political and social trends toward more imprisonment and away from community supervision could result in reduced employment opportunities.

Job Prospects

In addition to openings resulting from growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace large numbers of these workers expected to retire in the coming years. This occupation is not attractive to some potential entrants because of relatively low earnings, heavy workloads, and high stress. For these reasons, job opportunities should be excellent for those who qualify.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, visit

American Probation and Parole Association

For information about criminal justice job opportunities in your area, contact the departments of corrections, criminal justice, or probation for individual states.