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Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists - 21-1092.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Adult Probation Officer
Correctional Counselor
Deputy Probation Officer (DPO)
Juvenile Probation Officer
Parole Agent

Parole Officer (PO)
Probation Agent
Probation and Parole Officer
Probation Counselor
Probation Officer

SOC Occupation Groups

21-0000	Community and Social Service Occupations
21-1000	Counselors, Social Workers, and Other Community and Social Service Specialists
21-1090	Miscellaneous Community and Social Service Specialists
21-1092.00	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Related Occupations

21-1011.00	Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors Bright Outlook
21-1014.00	Mental Health Counselors
21-1015.00	Rehabilitation Counselors
21-1021.00	Child, Family, and School Social Workers
21-1022.00	Healthcare Social Workers
21-1023.00	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
21-1093.00	Social and Human Service Assistants
33-1011.00	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
33-3012.00	Correctional Officers and Jailers
33-3051.00	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Tasks

Administer drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens of offenders, to verify compliance with substance abuse treatment programs.
Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
Arrange for postrelease services, such as employment, housing, counseling, education, and social activities.
Assess the suitability of penitentiary inmates for release under parole and statutory release programs and submit recommendations to parole boards.
Conduct prehearing and presentencing investigations and testify in court regarding offenders' backgrounds and recommended sentences and sentencing conditions.
Develop and prepare packets containing information about social service agencies, assistance organizations, and programs that might be useful for inmates or offenders.
Develop liaisons and networks with other parole officers, community agencies, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, and aftercare agencies to plan for helping offenders with life adjustments.
Develop rehabilitation programs for assigned offenders or inmates, establishing rules of conduct, goals, and objectives.
Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
Identify and approve work placements for offenders with community service sentences.
Inform offenders or inmates of requirements of conditional release, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.
Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seizure.
Participate in decisions about whether cases should go before courts and which court should hear them.
Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
Provide offenders or inmates with assistance in matters concerning detainers, sentences in other jurisdictions, writs, and applications for social assistance.
Recommend appropriate penitentiary for initial placement of an offender.
Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
Write reports describing offenders' progress.

Detailed Work Activities

Administer drug screening tests.
Arrange physical or mental health services for clients.
Collect information about clients.
Counsel clients or patients with substance abuse issues.
Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.
Evaluate characteristics of individuals to determine needs or eligibility.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Help clients get needed services or resources.
Interview clients to gather information about their backgrounds, needs, or progress.
Investigate legal issues.
Maintain client information or service records.
Monitor health or behavior of people or animals.
Plan programs to address community mental wellness needs.
Provide educational materials to community members.
Recommend legal actions.
Refer individuals to educational or work programs.
Visit individuals in their homes to provide support or information.
Write reports or evaluations.