Careers in Justice > Probation or Parole Officer
Profession at a Glance
Parole officer, probation officer - what’s the difference?
A parole officer supervises offenders who are allowed to leave a detention centre early (before the end of their sentences). These offenders get to serve the rest of their sentences in the community.They must follow certain conditions, or risk being sent back to the detention centre.
Probation officers supervise offenders who are serving their entire sentence in the community instead of in a detention centre. These offenders also have conditions to follow while serving their sentences.
Both types of officers work with offenders to help them to readjust to life after committing a crime and to help them avoid committing more crimes. Sometimes there is overlap in their work.
To learn more about a parole officer’s or probation officer’s work, click through the tabs above.
A parole officer supervises offenders who are allowed to leave a detention centre early (before the end of their sentences). These offenders get to serve the rest of their sentences in the community.They must follow certain conditions, or risk being sent back to the detention centre.
Probation officers supervise offenders who are serving their entire sentence in the community instead of in a detention centre. These offenders also have conditions to follow while serving their sentences.
Both types of officers work with offenders to help them to readjust to life after committing a crime and to help them avoid committing more crimes. Sometimes there is overlap in their work.
To learn more about a parole officer’s or probation officer’s work, click through the tabs above.
Job Description
Parole officers and probation officers perform work in 3 main areas: supervision, support and evaluation.
Probation officers work for the provincial government. Parole officers usually work for the federal government.
Supervision
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:
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.
- 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.
Support
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.
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.
Evaluation
Where do probation and parole officers work?
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.
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.
Probation officers work for the provincial government. Parole officers usually work for the federal government.
Training
There is no particular program for becoming a probation officer or parole officer, but a university degree in one of the following areas is generally required:
Experience working with people in detention centres is also an asset.
On-the-job training is provided by the employer once a person is hired for this job.
To learn more about the job prospects (salary, rate of growth in the profession, etc.) of probation or parole officers, take a look at the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website.
Useful High School Courses
The following courses could help you prepare for a future as a correctional officer:
Speak to your guidance counsellor to see if there are other courses offered at your school that could prepare you for this career.
- Criminology
- Psychology
- Psychoeducation
- Sociology
- Social Work
Experience working with people in detention centres is also an asset.
On-the-job training is provided by the employer once a person is hired for this job.
To learn more about the job prospects (salary, rate of growth in the profession, etc.) of probation or parole officers, take a look at the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website.
Useful High School Courses
The following courses could help you prepare for a future as a correctional officer:
- Physical Education and Health
- Mathematics
- History and Citizenship Education
- French as a Second Language
- English Language Arts
Speak to your guidance counsellor to see if there are other courses offered at your school that could prepare you for this career.
Are you right for the job?
Thinking of a career as a probation officer or parole officer? Check out this list of skills and learn how to develop them.
Ability to Interact with Others
Probation officers or parole officers must earn the trust and respect of the offenders they are responsible for. Even though some offenders may seem hard to communicate with, probation and parole officers need to show they are open to talking.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You know how to make friends easily.
- You adapt quickly to people from different cultures, backgrounds and ages.
- You can negotiate with friends to solve problems.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Register in an extra-curricular activity where you don’t know anyone else.
- Become a youth mediator to help other kids in your school resolve their differences.
- Get in the habit of introducing yourself first to people you don’t know and start conversations with them.
Firmness
It is up to probation officers and parole officers to help offenders stay on track. They must ensure that offenders follow the conditions for their probation or parole. This takes firmness and knowing how to react when an offender tries to intimidate them or challenge their authority.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You can defend a very controversial position during a discussion, even if all your friends disagree with you.
- You are clear with your feelings when you are not happy with certain situations, such as when someone shows up late for a meeting.
- You know how to keep control of the situation and be firm about the rules when you are babysitting.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Work with children as an assistant coach or become the referee of a sport.
- Get in the habit of staying firm in your decisions and ideas.
- Establish a budget for the next year and stick to it despite the temptation to spend, with the goal of saving and buying something you really want.
Analytical Skills
The criminal world is not as clear cut as you might think. It is not as if those involved are either entirely good or entirely bad. For this reason, probation officers and parole officers must be able to analyse the situation, so that they can write accurate reports, and evaluate an offender’s progress.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You often guess the ending to a suspense movie or crime novel.
- You find it easy to understand new material at school.
- You are curious and like to work on complex problems, such as Sudoku.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Read interesting books and tell your friends about them in your own words.
- Watch informative TV shows and documentaries on a variety of subjects, such as politics, technology or sciences.
- Play games that require logic and strategy, such as chess, checkers or Risk.
Diplomacy
Probation officers and parole officers often work in intense situations. These officers must be diplomatic in order to defuse any crises and find the right order to defuse any crises and find the right words to calm everyone down and prevent violence from erupting.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You know how to give someone constructive criticism without hurting his or her feelings.
- You know how to keep sensitive information private and don't spread rumours.
- You are known for being polite to everyone.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Take an etiquette class to better understand social rules, good manners and politeness.
- Make a habit of choosing your words carefully before presenting ideas about sensitive subjects.
- Take advantage of opportunities to act as a host or hostess for school events.
Did you know?
- A person not considered to be a danger to society can avoid going to prison by working for an organization. This is what we call “community service”, and it is done under the supervision of a probation officer.
- In 2006 and 2007 there were 39,527 people admitted to detention centres in Quebec.
- Probation officers and parole officers both work with offenders serving their sentences in the community.