Are parole officers like probation officers? It's one of the first things
people wonder about parole officers.
Parole officers supervise people who have been released from prison. Probation
officers supervise people who have been ordered by the court to serve a sentence
in the community, or have been released from court on conditions, such as
community service or bail.
Parole officers work in offices and frequently visit the houses of the
people they're supervising. They then write reports saying whether the person
is conforming to the rules of their sentence. (Rules may include avoiding
drugs or alcohol, having a curfew, or staying away from specific people or
places.)
Parole officers also write reports for judges before a person can get probation.
To write these reports, the parole officer interviews the person
in question, as well as the person's friends, family, employers, police and
school authorities.
A heavy workload and lots of deadlines come standard for parole officers.
There are two types of parole officers: institutional parole officers (those
who work in federal prisons), and community parole officers (those who work
in the community).
"Essentially, their primary tasks are the same -- to assess the needs,
risks and behaviors of offenders on an ongoing basis," says parole officer
Tara Tomasi. "These assessments are made in consultation with a variety of...
contacts, including the offender, his/her community support, correctional
staff, psychologists, police agencies and program facilitators."
In prisons, parole officers help prepare offenders for a gradual release
back into the community, she says. In the community, parole officers help
offenders with a variety of life skills and coping strategies. At the same
time, they closely supervise and monitor the offenders' safe reintegration
into the community.
There can be an element of danger to this job. After all, parole officers
are responsible for checking up on people who have committed crimes... sometimes
dangerous ones. Some offenders may be addicted to drugs or have mental issues.
Others are repeat offenders. As a result, parole officers sometimes carry
weapons.
Some parole officers are able to keep a regular 9-to-5 schedule. Others,
depending on the people they're supervising, work irregular hours. Overtime
is common. Working weekends and holidays is also common in this line of work.
(Christmastime can be especially busy.)
Parole officers (as well as probation officers) fall under the broad category
of correctional officers. Correctional officers supervise people who have
been in the corrections system at some point.
Parole officers must enjoy working with people. Not only do they deal with
offenders, they also work with organizations to secure services for the people
they're supervising. Communication skills are essential.
Good decision-making skills are also very important. Parole officers decide
whether a person stays in the community or returns to prison. The ability
to keep a clear head during heated moments is another important trait for
parole officers.
Parole officers deal with intervention, enforcement and behavior modification.
They develop case management plans for the people they're supervising and
update the plans as needed.
Being a parole officer is a realistic goal for men or women, says Keith
Hardison. He is the chief administrative officer at the Association of Paroling
Authorities International. He says he's seen many changes over the years.
"When I first started in this business, there were very few women, especially
in management," he says. "I can definitely say that has changed. There are
probably as many women as men in the field in the United States."