Probation and Parole Officer

State of Oklahoma•Chickasha, OK

1d•$48,045 - $54,701•Onsite

About The Position

Probation and Parole Officers perform professional social service and law enforcement duties involving assessment of criminogenic needs, transition planning, treatment referrals, and ongoing monitoring of offender behavior. They supervise probationers, parolees, and inmates in re-entry programs in the community to support public safety and reduce future criminal behavior. The role includes managing adult felon caseloads, conducting investigations, preparing reports and recommendations, maintaining offender records, monitoring financial obligations, conducting substance-use screenings, and assisting with security operations and offender arrests or transport when required. The position has three levels. Level I performs entry-level supervision duties. Level II performs probation and parole duties at the full-performance level and may provide training and guidance to others. Level III serves as a subject matter expert in an evidence-based practice area, may deliver cognitive programming, and supervises offenders with complex behavioral-management needs. The position is on-site and is not eligible for remote work. Job-related travel is required, and applicants must hold a valid driver’s license. Applicants are subject to drug testing and must meet peace-officer training and qualification requirements, including any required psychological or physical testing.

Requirements

For Level I: bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including at least 24 semester hours in any combination of psychology, sociology, social work, criminology, education, criminal justice administration, penology, or police science.
For Level II: the specified bachelor’s degree and coursework, plus two years of correctional social casework experience involving classification, assessment, or field supervision of probationers, parolees, and/or inmates; alternatively, a master’s degree in the listed fields may substitute for one year of the required work experience.
For Level III: the specified bachelor’s degree and coursework, plus four years of correctional social casework experience involving classification, assessment, or field supervision of probationers, parolees, and/or inmates; alternatively, a master’s degree in the listed fields may substitute for one year of the required work experience.
Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, legislation, policies, and procedures; evidence-based offender supervision; community resources; re-entry and transitional services; report writing; investigation and law enforcement practices; counseling and motivational interviewing; and substance testing and collection methods. Level III also requires knowledge of a specific evidence-based practice area.
Ability to build effective working relationships with communities, families, service agencies, and other support systems; locate suitable employment for offenders; motivate clients to change antisocial behaviors; manage substantial caseloads; testify in court; communicate effectively orally and in writing; apply evidence-based community-supervision practices; and use electronic technology to supervise offenders and manage offender information.
Level III requires ability to provide consultation, training, mentoring, and oversight to other staff in the area of expertise.
Willingness and ability to perform job-related travel and possession of a valid driver’s license.
Applicants are subject to drug testing.
Must meet peace-officer training and qualification requirements under the cited Oklahoma statutes, including any required psychological or physical testing.
Applicants must meet the stated statutory eligibility restrictions concerning felony convictions, offenses requiring sex-offender registration, misdemeanor domestic-violence convictions, qualifying protective orders, and dishonorable military discharge.
A transcript must be uploaded.

Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of adult felons using motivational interviewing and scientific assessment to identify criminogenic risks and needs and determine each offender’s stage of change.
Refer offenders to treatment and programs addressing their primary criminogenic needs.
Monitor offender activities and adherence to transition-planning action steps and conditions set by the releasing authority.
Assist offenders in obtaining and maintaining employment and in developing pro-social community support networks, relationships, interests, and activities.
Conduct investigations, including pre-sentence, interstate, pre-pardon, and pre-parole investigations.
Prepare reports on offender activities and provide recommendations for the releasing authority.
Maintain physical and electronic documentation related to offender caseload management.
Monitor payment of financial obligations ordered by the releasing authority; collect and document offender payments.
Assist with security operations during prison riots or disturbances, and arrest and transport offenders when required.
Conduct periodic drug and alcohol screenings of offenders.
At Level II, potentially provide training and guidance to others on routine assignments.
At Level III, provide expertise, consultation, training, mentoring, and oversight in a specific evidence-based practice area, and potentially provide direct cognitive programming.