4155 – Probation and parole officers and related occupations

Probation officers monitor the conduct and behaviour of criminal offenders serving probation terms. Parole officers monitor the reintegration of criminal offenders serving the remainder of sentences while conditionally released into the community on parole. Classification officers assess inmates and develop rehabilitation programs for criminal offenders who are incarcerated in correctional facilities. They are employed by federal and provincial governments and work in the community and in correctional facilities.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

• Case management worker – corrections
• Case manager – corrections
• Classification counsellor – corrections
• Classification officer – correctional institution
• Clemency officer – corrections
• Community case manager officer – corrections
• Correctional centre caseworker
• Parole officer
• Parole supervisor
• Probation and parole officer
• Probation officer
• Social assistance program officer – corrections
• Welfare program officer – corrections
• Youth worker – corrections

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Probation and parole officers

• Interview offenders, police, family, friends, school authorities and employers to prepare pre-sentence reports and assess offenders’ prospects for successful reintegration into the community
• Plan rehabilitation programs with offenders, establishing rules of conduct, goals and objectives
• Refer offenders to community and social service programs, as required
• Supervise the terms of a probation order and attend court
• Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans
• Recommend remedial action or initiate court action when terms of probation or parole are violated
• May perform administrative duties and supervise support staff
• May participate in policy development.

Classification officers – correctional institutions

• Interview inmates to assess adjustment problems and develop suitable rehabilitation programs
• Prepare classification reports recommending type of incarceration and types of interventions considered most beneficial for the rehabilitation of the inmates
• Plan rehabilitation programs with offenders, identifying needs and setting out goals and objectives
• Liaise with the inmates’ families and contacts in the community to maintain established bonds outside of the institution
• Advise and counsel inmates regarding their problems and evaluate their progress.

Employment requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in social work, criminology, psychology, sociology or other related social science discipline is required.
• A master’s degree in social work, criminology, psychology or other related social science discipline may be required.

Additional information

• Progression to correctional service management positions is possible with additional training or experience.

Exclusions

• Correctional service officers (4422)
• Correctional services managers (in 0423 Managers in social, community and correctional services)
• Social and community service workers (4212)
• Social workers (4152)