Career Facts

Investigate MORE INFO on all professions that sound interesting. Take your time. Don't skip a step.

Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist

Job Outlook: 3% (Slower than average)

  1. Is WHAT YOU DO enjoyable?
  2. Does the WORK ENVIRONMENT feel comfortable?
  3. Are you ok with THE REQUIREMENTS?
  4. Is the PAY ENOUGH?
  5. Is the JOB OUTLOOK positive- more than 7%?
  6. Still interested? WATCH THE VIDEO
  7. RELATED OCCUPATIONS Click here to view similar jobs.
FIND A JOB and more.

What Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Do About this section

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

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitating law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.

Duties

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically do the following:

  • Interview probationers and parolees, their friends, and their relatives in an office or at a residence to assess progress
  • Evaluate probationers and parolees to determine the best course of rehabilitation
  • Connect probationers and parolees with resources, such as job training
  • Test clients for drugs and, if necessary, offer substance abuse counseling
  • Complete prehearing investigations and testify in court or before parole boards regarding clients’ backgrounds and progress
  • Write reports and maintain case files on clients

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists supervise and counsel probationers or parolees, overseeing their clients’ actions in a variety of ways. For example, they may use electronic monitoring to track a client’s movement in the community.

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

The following are examples of types of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists:

Probation officers supervise people who have been placed on probation instead of sent to prison. These workers ensure that probationers are not a danger to the community and help in their rehabilitation by visiting frequently. Probation officers write reports that detail each probationer’s treatment plan and progress since being put on probation. Most work exclusively with either adults or juveniles.

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

Both probation and parole officers supervise probationers and parolees through personal contact with them and their families (also known as community supervision). These officers require parolees and probationers to keep in contact regularly by scheduling either telephone calls or office visits. They also check on them at their homes or places of work, taking into account the safety of the neighborhood. Probation and parole officers note mental health considerations and oversee drug testing and electronic monitoring of those under supervision. In some states, workers perform the duties of both probation and parole officers.

Pretrial services officers investigate a defendant’s background to determine whether they can be safely allowed back into the community before their trial date. Officers must assess the risk and make a recommendation to a judge, who decides on the appropriate sentencing (in settled cases with no trial) or bond amount. When pretrial defendants are allowed back into the community, pretrial officers supervise them to make sure that they stay within the terms of their release and appear at their trials.

Correctional treatment specialists, also known as case managers or correctional counselors, advise probationers and parolees and develop rehabilitation plans for them to follow. They may evaluate inmates using questionnaires and psychological tests. They also work with inmates, parole officers, and staff of other agencies to develop parole and release plans. For example, they may plan education and training programs to improve probationers’ 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 inmates are eligible for release, the case reports are given to the appropriate parole board. The specialist may help set up counseling for the parolees 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 inmate’s release and keep detailed written accounts of each parolee’s progress.

Work Environment About this section

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
Extensive travel and paperwork can also contribute to more hours of work.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists held about 94,500 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals 52%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals 45
Social assistance 1

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work full time. Their jobs may involve frequent travel, either to perform home and employment checks or property searches or to attend court hearings.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists may have court-imposed deadlines, adding pressure to complete time-sensitive tasks. Dealing with probationers and parolees who violate the terms of their supervision can be frustrating. Working in high-crime areas or in institutions may be stressful. Because of the hostile environments they may encounter, some officers and specialists carry a firearm or pepper spray for protection.

Despite the job’s challenges, however, the work also may be rewarding. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists may receive personal satisfaction from counseling members of their community and helping them become productive citizens.

Work Schedules

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work full time. Some workers may be on call and must respond to any issues with probationers, parolees, or law enforcement 24 hours a day.

Meeting with clients often requires travel and working during nonstandard hours.

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

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

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree. In addition, candidates may be required to pass competency exams, drug testing, and a criminal background check.

A valid driver’s license may be required, and some agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old.

Education

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor's degree. Common fields of degree include criminal justice or a related security and protective service field, social science, or psychology. Requirements vary by jurisdiction.

Training

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must complete a training program sponsored by their state or local 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 for up to 1 year before being offered a permanent position.

Some probation officers and correctional treatment specialists focus on a certain type of casework. For example, an officer may deal only with domestic violence probationers or with substance abuse cases; others work only on cases involving juvenile offenders. Officers and specialists receive training to prepare them to work with the type of client their casework involves.

Other Experience

Although job requirements vary, volunteer or paid work experience in the criminal justice field may be helpful for some positions.

Advancement

Advancement to supervisory positions is based primarily on experience and performance. A master’s degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology may be helpful for advancing.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to effectively convey information to different types of people, including clients and their families, lawyers, judges, and treatment providers.

Critical-thinking skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to assess clients’ needs to determine the best resources for helping them.

Decision-making skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must consider the best rehabilitation plan for clients.

Interpersonal skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to develop relationships with different types of people, including those who may be hostile or challenging.

Organizational skills. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to manage multiple cases at the same time.

Pay About this section

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Median annual wages, May 2021

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

$60,250

Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists

$48,400

Total, all occupations

$45,760

 

The median annual wage for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $60,250 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,090.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Local government, excluding education and hospitals $61,780
State government, excluding education and hospitals 53,330
Social assistance 37,060

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work full time. Some workers may be on call and must respond to any issues with probationers or law enforcement 24 hours a day.

Job Outlook About this section

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31

Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists

12%

Total, all occupations

5%

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

0%

 

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to show little or no change from 2021 to 2031.

Despite limited employment growth, about 8,000 openings for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment growth depends primarily on the amount of state and local government funding for corrections, especially the amount allocated to probation and parole systems.

Demand for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists should be strong as governments continue to recognize the advantages of community corrections over incarceration in certain situations. Parole officers will continue to be needed to supervise individuals who will be released from prison in the future.

Employment projections data for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, 2021-31
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2021 Projected Employment, 2031 Change, 2021-31 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

21-1092 94,500 94,600 0 100 Get data

Contacts for More Information About this section

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

American Probation and Parole Association

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

O*NET

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Video

Go back and forth. ADD and DELETE on your career planner. Then, make a decision. CHOOSE YOUR DREAM CAREER.

WordPress Image Lightbox Plugin