Occupation · SOC 21-1092
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
430 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementActive LearningPersuasionNegotiationCoordinationService OrientationInstructingSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationOperations MonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisMathematicsScienceOperations AnalysisTroubleshootingProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Law and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguagePsychologyTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementCommunications and MediaTransportationPhilosophy and TheologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematicsTelecommunicationsGeographyForeign LanguageMedicine and DentistryEconomics and AccountingHistory and ArcheologyChemistryProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologySales and MarketingBiologyDesignMechanicalFine ArtsBuilding and ConstructionPhysicsFood Production
Technology & tools
Appointment scheduling softwareCase management softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteCourt records databasesCustomer relationship management CRM softwareElectronic tracking device softwareEmail softwareFacebookLinkedInMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSpeech recognition softwareTyler Technologies Odyssey Case ManagerWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsWorking with ComputersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProcessing InformationAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesAnalyzing Data or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelyDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesSelling or Influencing OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationStaffing Organizational UnitsHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Case folders for assigned offenders — compile and organize under direct supervisor guidance within a correctional or community supervision office.Offender background information — gather through structured interviews with clients, families, and collateral contacts using agency-provided protocols.Probation contract terms — review and explain to newly assigned probationers during intake appointments under supervisory oversight.Drug, alcohol, and anger management history — document in intake assessments by following standardized screening tools in a community corrections setting.Curfew check procedures — assist in conducting scheduled home and workplace visits alongside an experienced officer in a field supervision context.Case management software and databases — enter client data and update records accurately using agency CRM and office suite tools under direction.Applicable probation and parole statutes — identify and reference relevant law and government regulations when preparing basic case documentation.Referral resources for medical, mental health, and substance abuse services — locate and compile lists of available providers according to supervisor instruction.Written case notes and progress summaries — draft in clear, accurate language following agency formatting standards with editorial review by a senior officer.Scheduling and calendar software — use to track client appointment compliance and curfew obligations within a structured caseload management system.
developing
Ongoing case files for a full caseload of probationers and parolees — maintain current and audit-ready with routine accuracy in a community supervision office.Regular progress interviews with probationers and parolees — conduct independently to assess goal attainment and contract compliance on an established schedule.Behavioral risk factors including substance abuse and anger management — discuss with offenders using motivational interviewing techniques in one-on-one supervision sessions.Electronically monitored home detention participants — supervise by analyzing monitoring data and conducting unannounced field visits across assigned geographic areas.Alleged parole violations — investigate through structured interviews, records review, and surveillance using agency protocols with limited supervisory input.Remedial action recommendations — prepare and submit to the court or parole board when probationers demonstrate noncompliance with established supervision conditions.Community treatment referrals for mental health and substance abuse — arrange and coordinate according to individual client needs and court-ordered requirements.Social perceptiveness and active listening skills — apply during client interviews to detect deception, assess emotional state, and identify emerging risk factors.Inductive and deductive reasoning — use when synthesizing background information from multiple sources to formulate individualized case plans in a correctional treatment context.Spreadsheet and project management software — utilize to track caseload milestones, compliance metrics, and appointment trends across an assigned client portfolio.
proficient
Complex, high-risk caseloads involving co-occurring disorders and violent offense histories — manage autonomously by integrating legal, psychological, and social service knowledge in community and institutional settings.Comprehensive presentence investigation reports — research, author, and deliver to courts, synthesizing offender background data, risk assessments, and evidence-based recommendations.Non-routine violation investigations involving surveillance, search and seizure, and multi-agency coordination — lead independently in accordance with constitutional and statutory requirements.Court actions in response to serious probation or parole violations — initiate and present with supporting documentation in formal legal proceedings.Individualized rehabilitation plans addressing criminogenic needs — develop and continuously evaluate by applying therapy, counseling, and behavioral science principles to diverse offender populations.Interagency service coordination across medical, mental health, substance abuse, and housing providers — negotiate and manage to meet complex court-ordered and individually assessed needs.Critical thinking and complex problem solving — apply when resolving competing legal, safety, and rehabilitative demands in high-stakes supervision decisions without supervisory escalation.Quantitative and qualitative case data — analyze using database query and spreadsheet tools to detect systemic compliance patterns and inform evidence-based supervision adjustments.Written reports, correspondence, and legal documents — produce with precision and professional authority for courts, parole boards, and partner agencies in high-consequence contexts.Time management and caseload prioritization strategies — implement across a full, autonomous caseload to ensure timely court submissions and field supervision requirements are consistently met.
advanced
Agency-wide supervision policies and evidence-based practice standards — develop and implement to align correctional treatment operations with current criminological research and legal mandates.Probation and parole officer teams — mentor, coach, and evaluate to build departmental competency in risk assessment, motivational interviewing, and violation investigation procedures.Interorganizational partnerships with courts, treatment providers, law enforcement, and community stakeholders — establish and sustain to expand rehabilitative resources available to supervised populations.Organizational case management and data systems — design selection criteria for and oversee implementation of CRM, scheduling, and database platforms across a division or department.Strategic resource allocation for caseload equity, officer safety, and community public safety outcomes — direct at an organizational level by analyzing aggregate performance and workload data.Ethical standards, integrity protocols, and compliance frameworks — model and enforce across the workforce to uphold public trust in community corrections and institutional supervision.Policy proposals and legislative recommendations — author and present to government bodies, drawing on law, public safety research, and field-level operational experience.Crisis response and critical incident protocols — lead the design and implementation of for high-risk offender populations in coordination with law enforcement and emergency services.Organizational training curricula on topics including risk-needs assessment, cultural competence, and legal compliance — develop and deliver to newly hired and experienced officers across the agency.Program evaluation and performance measurement systems — oversee to assess long-term recidivism, treatment engagement, and supervision outcome trends at an organizational or jurisdictional scale.
Also known as
55 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adult Probation and Parole OfficerAdult Probation OfficerAttendance OfficerCommunity Corrections SpecialistCommunity Supervision OfficerCorrectional Case ManagerCorrectional Casework SpecialistCorrectional CounselorCorrectional OfficerCorrectional Probation OfficerCorrectional Probation SpecialistCorrectional SpecialistCorrectional Treatment Case ManagerCorrectional Treatment SpecialistCorrectional Treatment Specialist Case ManagerCorrections CounselorCorrections SpecialistCourt WorkerCrime Prevention WorkerDCC Parole Officer (Division of Community Corrections Parole Officer)Deputy Juvenile OfficerDeputy Probation Officer (DPO)Detention AttendantDetention OfficerDetention WorkerIntensive Supervision OfficerJuvenile Correctional OfficerJuvenile CounselorJuvenile Court CounselorJuvenile Detention OfficerJuvenile Justice SpecialistJuvenile OfficerJuvenile Probation OfficerJuvenile Probation Parole OfficerJuvenile Probation Parole SpecialistJuvenile SpecialistJuvenile Supervision OfficerOffender Employment Specialist (OES)Offender Job Retention SpecialistOffender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS)