Probation or Parole Officer

Both probation officers and parole officers supervise offenders serving time in the community. The offender must report regularly to her probation or parole officer to show that she is respecting the conditions of her sentence. Examples of the types of conditions that an offender in the community might have to follow include:

• doing community service or getting drug or alcohol treatment
• respecting a curfew. (For example, the person is not allowed to leave her house after 8pm.)
• a ban on speaking with or approaching certain people. (For example, the person is not allowed to contact the victim of the crime.)
• a ban on associating with criminals or going to places where there are criminals
• a ban on going close to schools, or a ban on moving to another city

If the offender does not respect the conditions of her sentence, the probation officer or parole officer will inform the authorities, who will take the appropriate steps. This could result, for example, in the suspension of a person’s parole and a return to jail, or a fine for not respecting a probation order.

Probation officers and parole officers are also there to support an offender to re-enter society and reduce the risk that the offender commits another crime. Often, an offender has lost her job, home and some friends because she was found guilty of a crime. A probation or parole officer is there to help with this and other things like dealing with an addiction. A part of a probation officer's and parole officer’s job is to refer the offender to useful community organizations or programs.

In order to help and give advice, a probation or parole officer must be able to understand the problems an offender is dealing with. The officer then works with the offender to overcome these problems. For example, the officer could help an offender learn how to better deal with crisis situations or understand the impact of her crime on themselves and others. Even if re-entering society is first and foremost the offender’s responsibility, parole and probation officers are there to help out where they can.

Probation officers and parole officers evaluate an offender’s situation when she starts to serve her sentence in the community. If the person is at a high risk for committing another crime, she must meet with the officer more often.

Probation or parole officers also write many reports. They evaluate an offender’s behaviour and comment on the progress of the offender in returning to everyday life. They also report on whether or not the offender has been following the conditions of her sentence.