About Parole Officers

Through parole, inmates are granted early release to reduce prison crowding. Inmates that have been paroled are supervised by parole officers, whose goal is to aid them in becoming productive members of society.

What is a Parole Officer?

Parole officers work with criminal offenders, some of whom might be violent. They also work in areas that might be dangerous because that is where many offenders live. Parole officers carry firearms, and have the authority to make arrests when their charges violate the terms of parole.
Parole officers frequently testify in court, presenting evidence regarding their supervision and investigation of their charges. They might also be required to conduct presentence investigations and testify at parole board hearings.
Parole officers work with juveniles as well as adults. Good parole officers develop a close relationship with their charges, and develop a relationship with the community in which they are working. It is important that a parole officer be aware of the community resources that are available to their people.

Career Outlook for Parole Officers

With prison crowding growing, many states expect the need for parole officers to increase as inmates are freed from crowded prisons. While many government jobs will be affected by the condition of many states' budgets, it is likely that parole officers will be largely unaffected.

Requirements for Parole Officers

Parole officers must be in good physical and emotional condition. The work of a parole officer is rigorous because they are often working with volatile clients in crime-ridden areas. Parole officers also face an incredibly demanding workload so candidates should be in excellent physical and mental condition.
Most states require that parole officers have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Some states require that the degree be in a social science, while others will provide all of the subject specific training that is required.
Parole officers should possess excellent people skills because they will be constantly interacting with their charges and their families. Parole officers also will have frequent contact with attorneys, the parole board and law enforcement.

What do Parole Officers Do?

Parole officers supervise inmates that have been released before the end of their sentence. Their release is conditional and is monitored by a parole officer. If the inmate violates parole, he or she will be sent back to prison to complete a sentence.
A parole officer's goal is to help the inmate return to society as a productive and contributing member of the community. This will help the inmate avoid any of the behaviors that would violate the conditions of parole. Parole officers help the inmate develop a plan, which might include employment, a place to live, education, health care, drug treatment, psychological treatment.
Parole officers also attend hearings of the parole board and make recommendations regarding the potential release of incarcerated inmates, and the potential revocation of parole to inmates that have already been released.

Is Parole Sucessful?

The American Parole and Probation Association estimates that in 2004, about 46 percent of inmates released on parole successfully completed their period of supervision. While this might seem like a low success rate, that means that nearly half of the people released from the prison system were on their way to living lives beyond the bars of prison.

Restorative Justice

Parole is focused on the theory of restorative justice, which seeks to rehabilitate criminals so they can contribute to society upon their release from the system. The goal of restorative justice is to engage the offender, the victims, and the community toward the goal of reparation for harm done. This can be done by requiring community service, restitution (payment to victims for the harm done by the crime), and most importantly, by requiring that the parolee take responsibility for his actions.

Salary for Parole Officers

The median salary for parole officers nationwide is $49,500. Salary can vary dramatically based on location, education and experience, however salaries are competitive nationwide for parole officers.

Resources

• American Parole and Probation Association