What Do Case Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for case specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what case specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Case Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about case specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Case Specialists provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
Popular Job Titles For Case Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Probation Officers
- Probation and Parole Officers
- Juvenile Probation Officers
- Juvenile Justice Specialists
- Correctional Counselors
- Parole Officers
- Adult Probation Officers
- Corrections Specialists
- Community Corrections Specialists
- Correctional Treatment Specialist Case Managers
- Correctional Probation Officers
- Parole/Probation Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for case specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Case Specialists
Case Specialists Jobs By Industry
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 52.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 45.2%
- Individual and Family Services: 1.4%
- Facilities Support Services: 0.8%
- Other Residential Care Facilities: 0.2%
- Social Advocacy Organizations: 0.1%
- Other: 0.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of case specialists can be found working in the State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 52.1% of all jobs for case specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (45.2%), Individual and Family Services (1.4%), Facilities Support Services (0.8%), Other Residential Care Facilities (0.2%) and Social Advocacy Organizations (0.1%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Case Specialists
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Case Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what case specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work case specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that case specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for case specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Case Specialists
Based on 13,157 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Case Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 6,432 | 49% |
| Social Work | 5,601 | 43% |
| Psychology | 4,185 | 32% |
| Criminal Corrections | 3,958 | 30% |
| Case Management | 3,295 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Case Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,095 | 39% |
| Management | 3,711 | 28% |
| Investigation | 3,610 | 27% |
| Writing | 2,755 | 21% |
| Planning | 2,698 | 21% |
Based on 13,157 job postings related to case specialists, probation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, psychology, criminal corrections, case management and sociology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for case specialists, followed by management, investigation, writing, planning and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 6,432 | 49% |
| Social Work | 5,601 | 43% |
| Psychology | 4,185 | 32% |
| Criminal Corrections | 3,958 | 30% |
| Case Management | 3,295 | 25% |
| Sociology | 3,094 | 24% |
| Law Enforcement | 2,805 | 21% |
| Juvenile Justice | 2,687 | 20% |
| Legal Hearings | 2,561 | 19% |
| Mental Health | 2,338 | 18% |
| Substance Abuse | 1,828 | 14% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,801 | 14% |
| Human Services | 1,772 | 13% |
| Behavioral Science | 1,663 | 13% |
| Risk Analysis | 1,307 | 10% |
| Social Sciences | 1,305 | 10% |
| Criminology | 1,300 | 10% |
| Treatment Planning | 1,284 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,278 | 10% |
| Juvenile Delinquency | 1,164 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,095 | 39% |
| Management | 3,711 | 28% |
| Investigation | 3,610 | 27% |
| Writing | 2,755 | 21% |
| Planning | 2,698 | 21% |
| Operations | 2,291 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 2,057 | 16% |
| Report Writing | 1,940 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 1,470 | 11% |
| Clerical Works | 1,225 | 9% |
| Research | 1,200 | 9% |
| Time Management | 1,196 | 9% |
| Leadership | 1,181 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 1,134 | 9% |
| Accountability | 1,118 | 8% |
| Information Gathering | 1,069 | 8% |
| Filing | 985 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 953 | 7% |
| Decision Making | 936 | 7% |
| Administrative Functions | 935 | 7% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Case Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation Officers | 2,875 | 18.5% |
| Probation and Parole Officers | 2,041 | 13.2% |
| Juvenile Probation Officers | 1,678 | 10.8% |
| Juvenile Justice Specialists | 1,114 | 7.2% |
| Correctional Counselors | 919 | 5.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was probation officers, with 1,638 unique job postings. Probation and parole officers were second, with 670 postings, followed by juvenile probation officers, juvenile justice specialists and correctional counselors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to case specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation Officers | 2,875 | 18.5% |
| Probation and Parole Officers | 2,041 | 13.2% |
| Juvenile Probation Officers | 1,678 | 10.8% |
| Juvenile Justice Specialists | 1,114 | 7.2% |
| Correctional Counselors | 919 | 5.9% |
| Parole Officers | 651 | 4.2% |
| Adult Probation Officers | 500 | 3.2% |
| Corrections Specialists | 406 | 2.6% |
| Community Corrections Specialists | 1,388 | 8.9% |
| Correctional Treatment Specialist Case Managers | 415 | 2.7% |
| Correctional Probation Officers | 379 | 2.4% |
| Parole/Probation Specialists | 347 | 2.2% |
| Juvenile Counselors | 308 | 2% |
| Correctional Clinical Associates | 476 | 3.1% |
| Juvenile Specialists | 377 | 2.4% |
| Juvenile Officers | 311 | 2% |
| Juvenile Detention Specialists | 285 | 1.8% |
| Adult Probation and Parole Officers | 416 | 2.7% |
| Classification Officers | 438 | 2.8% |
| Deputy Probation Officers | 190 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for case specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for case specialists.
How much do case specialists make?
Case Specialists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.