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Requirements to Be a Parole Officer

Overview

Parole officers constitute a critical part of the American criminal justice system. By providing supervision and support to recently released prison and jail inmates, parole officers can reduce recidivism, enhance the safety of the community and make a real difference in people's lives. Most parole officers are employed by individual states or counties, although there are some positions associated with the federal system. As outlined below, there are a number of educational and professional prerequisites to becoming a parole officer.
Educational and Background Requirements

Because parole officers are typically employed by departments of correction in individual states or counties, there is no uniform national standard for their education, training and background. Generally speaking, a parole officer must hold at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, corrections, psychology, social work or a similar field. A clean criminal history is generally required. Many states also require their parole officers to hold peace officer certification and to qualify for driver and firearm licenses.

Duties

Paroled offenders are those who have been released from prison before the end of their sentence, but who remain under the supervision of correctional authorities until their sentence is completed or discharged. A parole officer's primary duty is to act as case manager for parolees. Parole officers typically meet with parolees just before or immediately after their release to outline the requirements of parole and to develop a rehabilitation plan. Many parolees are required to submit to drug testing, abide by curfews and to retain gainful employment. Parole officers monitor the parolees who have been assigned to them to ensure their compliance with these rules and retain the power to arrest those parolees who do not.
Wages

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a parole officer in May 2008 was $45,910. Average annual salaries vary dramatically from state to state, however, from a low of about $35,000 in New Mexico to a high of more than $70,000 in California.
Related Jobs

In many states, parole officers also act as probation officers or correctional treatment specialists. Probation officers perform many of the same duties as parole officers, although they are focused on offenders who have not been incarcerated. Probation officers may also be required to perform pre-sentence investigation reports designed to provide guidance to a court in making sentencing decisions.
Employment Outlook

More than 90 percent of parole officers are employed by state and local governments. Their employment is thus subject to budgetary limitations and changes in state sentencing laws. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the field will experience average growth in the years leading to 2016.