Probation and Parole Officer
Summary
Probation and parole officers supervise offenders who have been placed on community-based orders by the courts, and offenders released on parole from prison.
Duties & Tasks
Probation and parole officers may perform the following tasks:
- manage and supervise offenders who have received community-based supervision orders (community service, home detention, probation or parole, for example) and make sure that they comply with the relevant order conditions
- monitor home detainees by means of home visits and electronic monitoring technology and report all breaches of conditions
- develop and implement community-based work programs
- assess suitability, placement and management of offenders granted community service orders and fine option orders
- interview offenders, their families, employers and teachers to obtain information
- submit reports and recommendations on whether parole should be granted
- provide advice to assist the courts in determining the suitability of offenders to be placed on community-based orders
- assist offenders to obtain employment
- identify the risks and needs of offenders and refer them to appropriate programs and/or external agencies
- advise parolees and those on community-based orders, on matters such as education, employment, finance, housing and other community services which may assist in their rehabilitation
- conduct regular interviews with offenders and report on their progress
- maintain contact with families to help solve problems of readjustment and rehabilitation
- assist in preparing briefs for prosecuting offenders who fail to comply with community-based orders or breach parole conditions
- maintain and develop offender records and administrative procedures
- take part in staff development and training programs, and provide training to new staff
- participate on various committees to assist in policy, practice and community development.
Working Conditions
Probation and parole officers may work in an office or in non-institutionalised community corrections centres. A proportion of their time is spent at court and visiting prisons to interview and assess offenders and prisoners.
Personal Requirements
- able to work in a team environment
- maturity, patience, tolerance and discretion
- able to assess people and situations
- genuine interest in people and their welfare
- assertiveness
- good interpersonal skills
- good communication skills.
