What Is the Difference Between Parole & Probation Officers?
Not every criminal goes to jail. Some criminals are convicted and sentenced to probation and must deal with probation officers. Criminals that are sentenced to jail time receive parole when they complete their sentence or are awarded early release. These offenders then work with parole officers.
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Types
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Probation officers, in general, are assigned to either juvenile or adult offenders exclusively. They usually work with non-violent offenders who may be high-risk and/or repeat offenders. Parole officers work with all types of offenders. Both work with the court system and may be called to testify. Both also partner with community organizations and local residents to monitor an offender's behavior.
Function
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Probation and parole officers keep track of offenders in the judicial system. Probation officers help offenders with substance abuse, anger management, better driving skills, etc. They do their best to keep their offenders from repeating their crimes and possibly doing jail time. Parole officers help their offenders with the same issues in addition to helping them re-enter society after spending time in jail. They try to keep their offenders from retuning to jail.
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Features
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Most probation and parole officers work for state and local governments. Some work at the federal level with probation officers employed by the U.S. courts and parole officers employed by the U.S Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons. Sometimes these officers work on more than 100 active cases at a time depending on the needs of the offenders and agency jurisdiction. They use computers, phones and fax machines to handle their case load and at times telecommute from home.
Benefits
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Probation and parole officers work with offenders and their families. Technology helps these officers to be mobile so they are able to meet offenders at home or at their place of employment. Even though they work 40 hours a week, they are on call 24 hours a day to help offenders whenever they are needed.
Considerations
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A bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field is usually required. However, sometimes a military background with some work experience, like in corrections, may be allowed if a person is working towards their bachelor's degree. In some states the jobs for parole and probation officers are combined. This usually happens in smaller and rural jurisdictions.
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