Probation Parole Officer

State of Montana•Kalispell, MT

About The Position

The Montana Department of Corrections is hiring a Probation and Parole Officer in Kalispell, Montana. Guided by the Department’s mission of accountability, rehabilitation, and empowerment, the officer manages a correctional population, promotes public safety, and encourages offenders to make positive changes. The officer works with the public and criminal justice system and supervises and counsels approximately 80–100 offenders, balancing social work and law enforcement duties. The officer conducts pre-sentence investigations and prepares written reports with recommendations to the District Court and Parole Board concerning placement, rehabilitation, treatment, probation conditions, and incarceration. The position also connects offenders with appropriate resources and programs, monitors compliance and progress, investigates alleged probation or parole violations, arrests and detains violators, and testifies in court and information hearings. The role involves responding to potentially hostile and physically threatening situations. Officers may use Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) spray and firearms and carry handcuffs. Schedules may vary and include nights and weekends; officers may be called back at any hour and must be available 24/7 when called upon to assist a DOC facility or law enforcement agency. Job-related travel may be required up to 10% of the time, in addition to training travel. A related college degree and formal behavioral sciences training are required, subject to the department’s approval of exceptions and qualifying experience substitutions. The position requires POST Basic Certification after training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and successful completion of one year of employment with the DOC.

Requirements

At least a college degree in a related field, such as criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, or guidance and counseling, and some formal training in behavioral sciences; exceptions require department approval.
Related work experience in corrections/detention, criminology, education, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, law, law enforcement, social work, sociology, psychiatric nursing, or guidance and counseling may substitute for education at a rate of one year of experience for nine months of formal education, if approved by the department.
Obtain POST Basic Certification after attending training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and successfully completing one year of employment with the Department of Corrections.
For POST certification: be a United States citizen and at least 18 years old.
For POST certification: submit fingerprints for a criminal history search and meet the stated criminal-history and good-moral-character requirements.
For POST certification: be a high school graduate or hold a GED or equivalent.
Possess or be eligible for a valid Montana driver’s license.
Be qualified to possess firearms under the stated Brady Act and Lautenberg Amendment restrictions.
Meet the stated Prison Rape Elimination Act disqualifier requirements.

Responsibilities

Supervise and counsel 80–100 offenders while balancing social work and law enforcement duties.
Cooperate with the public and criminal justice system and solicit relevant information.
Conduct pre-sentence investigations and prepare written reports with placement, rehabilitation, treatment, probation-condition, and incarceration recommendations for the District Court and Parole Board.
Refer offenders to appropriate resources or programs using department supervision standards, risk and needs assessments, and knowledge of state and community resources.
Monitor offenders’ progress and compliance.
Investigate alleged probation or parole violations, including using applicable policies and procedures concerning violations, search warrants, and investigations.
Arrest and detain violators.
Testify in district court and information hearings concerning sentencing or revocation of probation or parole status.
Respond to hostile or physically threatening situations and, when necessary, use O.C. spray and firearms while carrying handcuffs.
Be available to assist DOC facilities or law enforcement agencies when called upon, including outside regular hours.