Probation officers and correctional treatment specialistsMany people who are convicted of crimes are placed on probation, instead of being sent to prison. During probation, offenders must stay out of trouble and meet various other requirements. Probation officers, who are called community supervision officers in some States, supervise people who have been placed on probation. Correctional treatment specialists, who may also be known as case managers, counsel prison inmates and help them plan for their release from incarceration. Parole officers and pretrial services officers perform many of the same duties that probation officers perform. However, parole officers supervise offenders who have been released from prison on parole to ensure that they comply with the conditions of their parole. In some States, the job of parole and probation officer is combined. Pretrial services officers conduct pretrial investigations of criminal suspects when they are arrested by police. Their findings help to determine whether a suspect should be released before their trial. When suspects are released before their trial, pretrial services officers have the responsibility of supervising them to make sure they adhere to the terms of their release and that they show up for their trial. Occasionally, in the Federal courts system, probation officers perform the functions of pretrial services officers. Probation officers supervise offenders on probation or parole through personal contact with the offenders and their families. Instead of requiring offenders to meet officers in their offices, many officers meet offenders in their homes and at their places of employment or therapy. Probation and parole agencies also seek the assistance of community organizations, such as religious institutions, neighborhood groups, and local residents, to monitor the behavior of many offenders. Some offenders are required to wear an electronic device so that probation officers can monitor their location and movements. Officers may arrange for offenders to get substance abuse rehabilitation or job training. Probation officers usually work with either adults or juveniles exclusively. Only in small, usually rural, jurisdictions do probation officers counsel both adults and juveniles. Probation officers also spend much of their time working for the courts. They investigate the background of offenders brought before the court, write presentence reports, and make sentencing recommendations for each offender. Officers review sentencing recommendations with offenders and their families before submitting them to the court. Officers may be required to testify in court as to their findings and recommendations. They also attend court hearings to update the court on the offender�s compliance with the terms of his or her sentence and on the offender�s efforts at rehabilitation. Correctional treatment specialists work in correctional institutions (jails and prisons) or in parole or probation agencies. In jails and prisons, they evaluate the progress of inmates. They also work with inmates, probation officers, and other agencies to develop parole and release plans. Their case reports are provided to the appropriate parole board when their clients are eligible for release. In addition, they plan education and training programs to improve offenders� job skills and provide them with coping, anger management, and drug or sexual abuse counseling either individually or in groups. They usually write treatment plans and summaries for each client. Correctional treatment specialists working in parole and probation agencies perform many of the same duties as their counterparts who work in correctional institutions. The number of cases a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist handles at one time depends on the needs of offenders and the risks they pose. Higher risk offenders and those who need more counseling usually command more of the officer�s time and resources. Caseload size also varies by agency jurisdiction. Consequently, officers may handle from 20 to more than 100 active cases at a time. Computers, telephones, and fax machines enable the officers to handle the caseload. Probation officers may telecommute from their own homes. Other technological advancements, such as electronic monitoring devices and drug screening, also have assisted probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in supervising and counseling offenders. Related news articles Software to help state monitor sex offenders' online activities - 16 Oct 2006 Stamford Advocate,...pay IPPC a monthly fee of $23 month if they want to use the Internet and need the software to do so, said Celia Siefert, the state's chief probation officer. ... Special police unit targets underage drinkers and alcohol ... - 16 Oct 2006 Hamline University Oracle Online,Then the person is assigned a probation officer for one year. If no infractions occur during this year, the probation is removed from the record. ... Harris: From student council to City Council - 16 Oct 2006 Manteca Bulletin,That same year Harris began his job as a probation officer with the San Joaquin County, where in 32 years of service he experienced many interesting things. ... Add new weapon to meth battle - 16 Oct 2006 Arizona Republic,Barbara Broderick, the chief adult probation officer for Maricopa County, likens Proposition 301 to reverse mandatory sentencing. ... Probation officer saw it all during 30-plus years - Oct 13, 2006 Billings Gazette,McRae went to work for the Montana Department of Institutions in 1975, she was told to forget about working as a parole and probation officer because women ... Trial begins in assault on probation officer - Oct 9, 2006 Patriot-News,Whether the Harrisburg man intended to kill probation officer Joseph Shockley in a scuffle a year ago will determine whether Hopkins faces harsher punishment. ... Man convicted of assaulting probation officer - Oct 11, 2006 Patriot-News,A Harrisburg man on trial for attempting to shoot and kill a Dauphin County probation officer in the parking lot of the county work-release center was found ... Ex-chief probation officer sentenced - Oct 11, 2006 Sacramento Bee,AUBURN -- Yolo County's former interim chief probation officer was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in jail and placed on three years of informal probation for a ... Former Yolo Co. Probation Officer Jailed For DUI - Oct 11, 2006 CBS 13,...(AP) SACRAMENTO Yolo County's former interim chief probation officer has been sentenced to 30 days in jail followed by three years informal probation for a ... Arrest warrant targets probation officer - Oct 6, 2006 OCRegister,Authorities are seeking the arrest of a juvenile probation officer charged with having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male inmate at Orange County ... Graffiti patrol adds officer - Oct 13, 2006 Whittier Daily News,By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer. MONTEBELLO - Graffiti Detective Ismael Navarro is teaming up with a probation officer in the fight against local criminals. ... Heights to have probation officer - Sep 21, 2006 Noblesville Ledger,ARCADIA -- The Hamilton Heights School Board approved a plan Tuesday night that will place a probation officer in the high school to work with students on a ... Hamilton Heights to have probation officer - Sep 20, 2006 Noblesville Ledger,By Katie Robbins. ARCADIA -- Hamilton Heights High School will now have a probation officer working with students on a daily basis. ... Real-life juvenile probation officer tells actor he better not ... - Sep 15, 2006 Akron Beacon Journal,He portrays probation officer Sean Porter, who's tired of seeing the repeat juvenile offenders who populate the detention camp where he works. ... County selects chief probation officer - Sep 28, 2006 Mohave Valley News,By JIM SECKLER. KINGMAN - After six months of searching, Mohave County finally has a new chief probation officer. Friend Walker of ... Probation Officer Hurt Seriously in Crash - Sep 25, 2006 WOAI,A probation officer remained hospitalized in critical condition Monday night after a violent hit and run crash, and the driver accused for hitting him then ... Ex-probation officer sentenced to 7 years - Sep 21, 2006 San Antonio Express (subscription),A former Bexar County adult probation officer was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $5,500 Thursday for keeping money from probationers who thought ... Ex-sherriff's officer won't get bail - Oct 14, 2006 Dailyrecord.com,Morris County Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Redden and a county probation officer were in court on Friday to ask Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto to ... More information on Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists occupation Number of Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists Working conditions for Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists Significant points for Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists Training requirements for Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |