Probation Parole Officer

State of Montana • Livingston, MT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Probation and Parole Officer position, guided by the Department of Corrections (DOC) mission, plays a central role in managing the correctional population, promoting public safety and encouraging offenders to make positive life changing decisions for their future. The officer cooperates with, and solicits information from, the public and criminal justice system and supervises and counsels 80-100 offenders. Must have skills and abilities to equally balance social work and law enforcement duties. The officer conducts pre-sentence investigations and makes placement recommendations concerning those offenders sentenced to DOC. These investigations are completed with cooperation from other criminal justices’ agencies and by using investigative skills; knowledge of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to probation, parole, incarceration, rehabilitation and treatment programs, as well as knowledge of behavioral science. The officer then makes recommendations for rehabilitation, treatment plans, conditions of probation, the need for incarceration, and appropriate level (i.e. local jail or Montana State Prison) to the District Court and Parole Board through a written pre-sentence investigation report. Officers refer offenders to appropriate resources or programs using departments supervision standards, a risk and needs assessment as well as knowledge of state and community resources and monitors the progress of the client for compliance. Officers investigate alleged violations of probation or parole using knowledge of policies & procedures pertaining to violations, search warrants & investigations. Officers arrest and detain violators and testify in district court and information hearings relative to sentencing or revocation of client’s probation or parole status. Officers are trained to handle situations if probation & parole offenders or inmates become hostile & pose a physical threat. This requires the use of Oleoresin Capsicum “O.C. Spray” and firearms and carrying handcuffs.

Requirements

• College degree in a related field such as criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, or guidance and counseling.
• Formal training in behavioral sciences.
• POST Basic Certification after attending training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and successfully completing one year of employment with the Department of Corrections.
• Must be a citizen of the United States of America.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be fingerprinted for a criminal history search.
• Must not have been convicted of a crime for which s/he could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary.
• Must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background screen.
• Must be a high school graduate or issued a GED or its equivalent.
• Must possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver’s license.
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• State of Montana Application
• Background screens which may include criminal records check, child/patient/offender abuse registries, and reference checks will be conducted for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Related work experience in the areas of corrections/detention, criminology, education, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, law, law enforcement, social work, sociology, psychiatric nursing, or guidance and counseling may be substituted for educational requirements at the rate of 1 year of experience for 9 months formal education if approved by the department.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and counsels 80-100 offenders.
• Conducts pre-sentence investigations and makes placement recommendations.
• Refers offenders to appropriate resources or programs.
• Monitors client progress for compliance.
• Investigates alleged violations of probation or parole.
• Arrests and detains violators.
• Testifies in district court and information hearings.
• Handles situations where probation & parole offenders or inmates become hostile & pose a physical threat.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Generous State of Montana Benefits
• May qualify for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level