Probation and Parole Officer

Job Title

Probation and Parole Officer

Positions in this job family are responsible for performing routine professional social service and law enforcement duties in the areas of assessment of criminogenic need, transition plan design, treatment referral and ongoing monitoring of offender behavior. Supervision services are provided in the community for probationers, parolees and inmates in re‑entry programs for the purpose of increasing public safety through the reduction of future criminal behavior.

• Manages a caseload of adult felons by employing motivational interviewing skills to complete a scientific assessment of criminogenic risk/need and to determine the offender’s stage of change for each identified need area; criminogenic needs of each offender; referring offenders to appropriate treatment and/or programs to target the offender’s primary criminogenic needs; monitoring activities of offenders to ensure adherence to action steps negotiated through transition planning and to conditions ordered by releasing authority;
  
  assisting offenders in obtaining and maintaining employment; engaging ongoing support for the offender in the community by assisting the offender in identifying a network of family and friends with a pro‑social orientation; and identifying pro‑social interests and activities that are geared toward improving bonds and ties to pro‑social community members.
• Conducts various investigations including, but not limited to, pre‑sentence, interstate, pre‑pardon and pre‑parole.
• Prepare reports concerning activities of offenders and provide recommendations for the use of the releasing authority.
• Maintain documentation, physical and electronic, relating to management of offender caseload.
• Monitor payment of financial obligations ordered by the releasing authority; collect and document offender payments.
• Assists in security operations in the event of a prison riot or disturbance; arrests and transports offenders when required.
• Conduct periodic screening for drug and alcohol use by offenders.

Level I - Basic level where incumbents perform entry‑level duties involved in the supervision of probationers, parolees and inmates in re‑entry programs.

Level II - Career level where incumbents perform a variety of professional probation and parole duties at the full performance level involving the supervision of probationers, parolees and of inmates in pre‑entry programs. Some responsibility may also be assigned for providing training and guidance to others in completing various routine assignments.

Level III - Specialist level where incumbents serve as a subject matter expert in a specific area of evidence‑based practice such as motivational interviewing, assessment or transition planning; provide direct cognitive programming to an offender population; responsible for the supervision of offenders who present complex and difficult behavioral management issues.

• Level I - Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, legislation, policies and procedures as they pertain to offenders; evidence‑based practices in the supervision of offenders; community resources; public and private re‑entry and transitional services; report writing; basic investigation techniques; basic law enforcement practices; counseling techniques and motivational interviewing; substance testing and collection methods. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with community, families, service agencies, and other support systems;
  
  locate suitable employment for community‑based offenders; motivate clients to change antisocial behaviors; manage substantial caseloads; give courtroom testimony; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; understand and implement evidence‑based practices; use electronic technology.
• Level II - Same knowledge base as Level I; additional ability to provide training and guidance to others in completing routine assignments.
• Level III - Same knowledge base as Level II plus expertise in a specific area of evidence‑based practice; ability to provide consultation, training, mentoring and oversight for other…