Probation and Parole Officer
About The Position
The Probation and Parole Officer performs professional social-service and law-enforcement duties involving assessment of criminogenic needs, transition planning, treatment referrals, and ongoing monitoring of offender behavior. The role supervises adult probationers, parolees, and inmates in re-entry programs in the community to increase public safety by reducing future criminal behavior. The position manages an offender caseload using motivational interviewing and scientific risk/need assessment. It identifies offenders’ needs and stages of change, refers them to appropriate treatment and programs, monitors compliance with transition plans and release conditions, and helps them obtain and maintain employment and develop pro-social community support networks and activities. The officer also conducts investigations, prepares reports and recommendations, maintains physical and electronic case documentation, monitors and documents financial obligations and payments, conducts drug and alcohol screenings, and may assist with prison security operations and arrest and transport offenders when required. The posting describes three levels: Level I is entry-level supervision; Level II is full-performance work and may include training and guiding others; Level III is a specialist level involving expertise in an evidence-based practice, direct cognitive programming, and supervision of offenders with complex behavioral management needs. This is an on-site position in the Enid Office and is not eligible for remote work.
Requirements
- 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.
- Level II: The Level I degree requirement plus two years of correctional social-casework experience involving classification, assessment, or field supervision of probationers, parolees, and/or inmates; a master’s degree in the listed fields may substitute for one year of required work experience.
- Level III: The Level I degree requirement plus four years of correctional social-casework experience involving classification, assessment, or field supervision of probationers, parolees, and/or inmates; a master’s degree in the listed fields may substitute for one year of required work experience.
- Applicants must be willing and able to perform job-related travel and must possess a valid driver’s license.
- Applicants are subject to drug testing.
- Must meet the training and qualifications for peace officers required by Oklahoma law, including any required psychological or physical testing for eligibility to complete a basic police course or be certified as a peace officer.
- Applicants with specified felony convictions, certain sex-offense registration offenses, a disqualifying misdemeanor domestic-violence conviction or restraining order, or a dishonorable military discharge are ineligible for this job classification.
- Knowledge of relevant laws, rules, regulations, legislation, policies, and procedures; evidence-based offender-supervision practices; community resources; re-entry and transitional services; report writing; basic investigation and law-enforcement practices; counseling and motivational interviewing; and substance-testing and collection methods.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with communities, families, service agencies, and other support systems; locate suitable employment for community-based offenders; motivate clients to change antisocial behavior; manage substantial caseloads; give courtroom testimony; communicate effectively orally and in writing; implement evidence-based supervision practices; and use electronic technology to supervise offenders and manage offender information.
Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of adult felons using motivational interviewing and scientific assessment of criminogenic risk and needs.
- Determine offenders’ stages of change and refer them to treatment or programs addressing their primary criminogenic needs.
- Monitor offenders’ activities, action steps established through transition planning, and conditions imposed by the releasing authority.
- Assist offenders in obtaining and maintaining employment and in developing pro-social community support networks, interests, and activities.
- Conduct investigations, including pre-sentence, interstate, pre-pardon, and pre-parole investigations.
- Prepare reports on offender activities and recommendations for the releasing authority.
- Maintain physical and electronic documentation related to offender caseload management.
- Monitor payment of financial obligations and 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, may provide training and guidance to others on routine assignments.
- At Level III, provide direct cognitive programming and consultation, training, mentoring, and oversight in an area of expertise.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
