What does a probation officer do?
A probation officer is responsible for monitoring probationers' cases, evaluating terms, and overseeing rehabilitation processes. Probation officers strategize probational operations, as well as recommending treatment plans to achieve probational objectives. They also maintain progress reports, deciding on release requirements and other conditional services to motivate the probationers on adhering to their treatment procedures. A probation officer assesses the probationers' behaviors during the probationary period, regularly interacting with them to identify their challenges, and administering remedial actions.
Probation officer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real probation officer resumes:
- Manage significant DUI caseload to court-ordered and conditional probation completion.
- Create comprehensive case plans that identify needs of offenders in order to facilitate public safety and rehabilitation of the offender.
- Promote positive changes in offender behavior that have been release from TDCJ to pursue their sentence.
- Assist in the screening and selection of GPS offenders that are release from custody as a condition of bond.
- Clerk probate, guardianship, commitment and juvenile, prepare minutes, schedule hearings and draft legal documents and correspondence.
- Complete pre-sentence interviews and investigations.
- Maintain training and firearms certification quarterly.
- Monitor offenders assign to GPS and alcohol monitoring.
- Receive firearms training and subsequently carries and maintain firearms
- Conduct pre-sentence investigation interviews and file reports/violations with the court.
- Utilize motivational interviewing when interacting with juvenile and adult probationers.
- Demonstrate and utilize principles of motivational interviewing regularly with offenders.
- Assist with administering informal probate files ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements and monitoring benchmarks.
- Collaborate and coordinate care to enhance deficient life skills and promote overall community safety as part of the rehabilitation process.
- Assess the suitability of penitentiary inmates for release under parole and statutory release programs and submit recommendations to parole boards.
Probation officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Probation Officers are proficient in Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Rehabilitation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Emotional stability, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Probation Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Criminal Justice, 12%
Worked in conjunction with other criminal justice agencies and law enforcement representatives to achieve objectives related to the overall probation program.
- Mental Health, 10%
Referred probationers to mental health, chemical dependency and education programs in order to provide successful integration back into the community.
- Rehabilitation, 6%
Collaborated and coordinated care to enhance deficient life skills and promote overall community safety as part of the rehabilitation process.
- Juvenile Offenders, 6%
Counseled juvenile offenders in activities related to legal conditions of probation as well as educational and personal matters.
- Community Resources, 5%
Forged positive relationships and collaborated with community correction professionals, treatment providers, law-enforcement officials, and other community resources.
- Court Orders, 5%
Monitored and supervised convicted offenders within the community to prevent recidivism and ensure compliance with court ordered mandates and sentencing guidelines.
Common skills that a probation officer uses to do their job include "criminal justice," "mental health," and "rehabilitation." You can find details on the most important probation officer responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a probation officer to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what probation officers do because "probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to effectively convey information to different types of people, including clients and their families, lawyers, judges, and treatment providers." Additionally, a probation officer resume shows how probation officers use communication skills: "ensured communication between probation department, superior clerk's office, and prosecutor's office, within criminal justice system. "
Organizational skills. probation officers are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to probation officer responsibilities, because "probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to manage multiple cases at the same time." A probation officer resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "partnered with key stakeholders to facilitate change in organizational operations and key legal changes post-overhaul of illinois criminal justice statutes. "
The three companies that hire the most probation officers are:
- United States Courts29 probation officers jobs
- Scott County, Iowa3 probation officers jobs
- Dakota Holding Corporation1 probation officers jobs
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Compare different probation officers
Probation officer vs. Treatment specialist
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a probation officer are more likely to require skills like "juvenile offenders," "court orders," "community agencies," and "substance abuse treatment." On the other hand, a job as a treatment specialist requires skills like "social work," "substance abuse," "behavioral issues," and "mental illness." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Treatment specialists really shine in the non profits industry with an average salary of $44,419. Comparatively, probation officers tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $45,632.On average, treatment specialists reach similar levels of education than probation officers. Treatment specialists are 1.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Probation officer vs. Parole agent
A child protective investigator is responsible for investigating incident reports for child-violating cases, collecting court evidence of child abuse, and keeping the child under safe custody for protection. Child protective investigators conduct field investigations by locating the area of concern, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing similar cases of violence. They coordinate with medical professionals to check the child's condition and record any signs of trauma and injuries. A child protective investigator may also attend court procedures to represent the child and testify to press charges with the abuser.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that probation officer responsibilities requires skills like "rehabilitation," "juvenile offenders," "substance abuse treatment," and "community services." But a parole agent might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "conduct investigations," "social work," "parole," and "caseload management."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Parole agents tend to reach similar levels of education than probation officers. In fact, they're 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Probation officer vs. Child protective investigator
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from probation officer resumes include skills like "criminal justice," "rehabilitation," "juvenile offenders," and "court orders," whereas a child protective investigator is more likely to list skills in "patrol," "social work," "team work," and "cctv. "
Child protective investigators make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $43,898. On the other hand, probation officers are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $45,632.Most child protective investigators achieve a similar degree level compared to probation officers. For example, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Probation officer vs. Parole supervisor
Types of probation officer
Updated January 8, 2025
