Parole Officer

A Parole Officer's most important skill is the ability to accurately assess the behaviour of the offender. For it is on the basis of this assessment that the Parole Officer develops appropriate programming and treatment options to address the offender's behaviour.

For this reason, Parole Officers must be especially skilled at interviewing, counselling, identifying and assessing human behaviour.

Parole Officers, working within the institution or in the community, are key to the goal of successfully reintegrating offenders into society. They work closely with others to help them in their evaluations, actively seeking input from psychologists, instructors, program delivery officers, correctional officers, and the offender.

In addition, Parole Officers maintain a network of contacts with other members of the criminal justice system, community agencies and program service providers, to ensure a broad and accurate base of knowledge. With the required information in hand, and using their professional judgment, they prepare reports and assessments needed to address issues such as offender releases, transfers or community contact.

If you have a degree in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology or a related field, and are skilled at assessing human behaviour, you are an ideal candidate for a career as a Parole Officer.