Probation Officer Job Description
Probation officers are criminal justice professionals who supervise people who have been assigned probation instead of being incarcerated. When someone is incarcerated and released early under supervision, it is then called parole. Probation officers often specialize working with in either juvenile or adult offenders.
Probation Officer Job Duties
Probation officers meet with the probationer on a regular basis. They work together on a probation plan to help the offender successfully complete their time on probation. If an offender is unsuccessful, this could result in revocation of probation and a transition to incarceration.
Each plan is tailored to the probationer's needs and abilities and may include restitution to victims, community service, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, or other community oriented programs that can aid the probationer in rehabilitating their life. Probation officers usually work full-time, are on-call 24/7 and have heavy caseloads, with some officers supervising over a hundred probationers. Probation officers are responsible for ensuring the safety of the public from offenders that are on probation. Their duties include the following:
- Investigate the probationer's history to better understand their background prior to hearings that decide an offender's eligibility for probation
- Ensuring compliance with probation terms
- Testing probationers for drugs
- Assisting probationers in finding employment or educational opportunities
- Calling or visiting employers to check on probationer's progress
- Coordinating with community resources to help probationers with their individual needs and plans
- Providing referrals and resources for counseling
- Interviewing probationers' family and friends to examine progress
- Conducting home visits
- Writing progress reports
- Coordinating with law enforcement and the courts for the re-arrest of non-compliant probationers
- Testifying in court concerning probationers' background and/or progress
Becoming a Probation Officer
Becoming a probation officer generally requires formal education, training, and experience. Most probation officers are also required to be at least 21 years of age, pass background checks and drug tests, and hold a valid driver's license.
Typically, probation officers need at least a bachelor's degree. Different jurisdictions may require specific degrees, but usually probation officers need to major in areas such as the behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or social work. There are some degree programs, such as sociology, that may offer criminology as an area of concentration.
Some bachelor degree programs in criminal justice and related fields are available in online formats. Previous experience working in the criminal justice field can also be helpful when applying to become a probation officer.
Most states require aspiring probation officers to complete a training program and/or pass an exam to become a certified probation officer. Because adult and juvenile offenders are typically in two different areas of the criminal justice system, probation officers who wish to work with juveniles must also undergo additional training targeted to working with this population. This includes learning how to communicate and build a relationship with juveniles, understanding the juvenile court system, and gaining the ability to elicit information from their clients.
Exams for potential probation officers may cover a number of key areas that are relevant to the position. Exam items include such things as:
- A candidate's level of reading comprehension
- A candidate's knowledge of the law
- A candidate's understanding of theories and practices in the field of probation
- A candidate's ability to establish rapport with clients
- A candidate's ability to problem solve
- A candidate's ability to write a grammatically clear report that is easily comprehended
Probation Officer Skills and Abilities
Outside of the technical skills needed to perform the duties of the position, probation officers also can benefit from education and training in criminal justice, psychology, rehabilitation, and case management. It is also important for them to attend conferences and trainings that further develop their interpersonal and critical-thinking skills. Due to the challenging nature of the field, probation officers must be emotionally stable and should have strong competencies in the following areas:
- They should be able to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally and in writing, with their clients
- They need to have a high level of organization
- Need to be able to make solid decisions based on information available and their experiences interacting with the client
- They need to be creative problem-solvers
- Must be good at developing probation plans and coordinating with vested community members
- Need to be able to establish rapport and a relationship with their clients
- Need to have compassion for their clients and the public
- Must be flexible and adaptable to working in different environments from indoor offices to the field, including field environments that may have a high-level of risk
Day in the Life of a Probation Officer
While no day will be exactly alike, a day in the life of a probation officer includes spending a lot of time on the phone talking with clients, their families, employers, and community resources to ensure that their clients are complying with their probation plan. Often, probation officers are required to interact with with angry or frustrated people and must be able to use interpersonal and communication skills to deescalate such situations and to problem solve. Probation officers must also drug and alcohol test many of their clients on a daily basis.
Probation officers also work daily as a team with others within the criminal justice system and make decisions regarding probationers, including recommendations that are based on the offender's compliance or non-compliance.
Probation Officer Professional Organizations and Resources
Probation officers can receive additional support and guidance in their careers by joining professional organizations such the American Probation and Parole Association, the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association, and local state associations that are specifically for probation officers. These organizations often provide virtual and in-person continued education and trainings that allow probation officers to continue to grow in their field and to avail themselves of the latest research and technology to aid them in their profession.
Probation Officer Salary and Job Outlook
In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average annual salary for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $54,290. Most of these professionals worked for the state government, excluding schools and hospitals, and made an average salary of $57,920 when employed by government agencies. The BLS also reported a job outlook of 4% for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists from 2019 to 2029.
