What Do Parole Agents Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for parole agents?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what parole agents 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.
Parole Agents Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about parole agents by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Parole Agents 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 Parole Agents
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Probation Officers
- Probation and Parole Officers
- Juvenile Probation Officers
- Chief People Officers
- Correctional Probation Officers
- Parole Officers
- Adult Probation Officers
- Parole/Probation Specialists
- Attendance Officers
- Deputy Probation Officers
- Parole Agents
- Juvenile Supervision Officers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for parole agents can be found.
Best Industries for Parole Agents
Parole Agents Jobs By Industry
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 50.9%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 46.8%
- Individual and Family Services: 1%
- Facilities Support Services: 0.6%
- Other Residential Care Facilities: 0.3%
- Private Households: 0.1%
- Other: 0.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of parole agents can be found working in the State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2022, about 50.9% of all jobs for parole agents were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (46.8%), Individual and Family Services (1%), Facilities Support Services (0.6%), Other Residential Care Facilities (0.3%) and Private Households (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 Parole Agents
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 Parole Agents Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what parole agents 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 parole agents 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 parole agents tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for parole agents, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Parole Agents
Based on 8,459 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Parole Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 5,778 | 68% |
| Social Work | 3,361 | 40% |
| Criminal Corrections | 2,767 | 33% |
| Case Management | 2,726 | 32% |
| Psychology | 2,594 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Parole Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation | 3,454 | 41% |
| Communications | 2,926 | 35% |
| Management | 2,711 | 32% |
| Writing | 1,610 | 19% |
| Report Writing | 1,488 | 18% |
Based on 8,459 job postings related to parole agents, probation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, criminal corrections, case management, psychology and law enforcement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, investigation was the most desired skill found in job postings for parole agents, followed by communications, management, writing, report writing and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation | 5,778 | 68% |
| Social Work | 3,361 | 40% |
| Criminal Corrections | 2,767 | 33% |
| Case Management | 2,726 | 32% |
| Psychology | 2,594 | 31% |
| Law Enforcement | 2,035 | 24% |
| Sociology | 1,948 | 23% |
| Legal Hearings | 1,791 | 21% |
| Human Services | 1,659 | 20% |
| Mental Health | 1,549 | 18% |
| Evidence-Based Practice | 1,446 | 17% |
| Substance Abuse | 1,372 | 16% |
| Risk Analysis | 1,292 | 15% |
| Data Analysis | 1,102 | 13% |
| Juvenile Justice | 1,089 | 13% |
| Criminology | 1,074 | 13% |
| Behavioral Science | 828 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 785 | 9% |
| Social Sciences | 727 | 9% |
| Rehabilitation | 674 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation | 3,454 | 41% |
| Communications | 2,926 | 35% |
| Management | 2,711 | 32% |
| Writing | 1,610 | 19% |
| Report Writing | 1,488 | 18% |
| Planning | 1,359 | 16% |
| Information Gathering | 1,247 | 15% |
| Operations | 1,140 | 13% |
| Multilingualism | 1,133 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 932 | 11% |
| Microsoft Office | 879 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 844 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 793 | 9% |
| Leadership | 754 | 9% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 702 | 8% |
| Accountability | 657 | 8% |
| Time Management | 654 | 8% |
| Research | 586 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 545 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 544 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Parole Agents
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation Officers | 5,647 | 36.1% |
| Probation and Parole Officers | 2,212 | 14.2% |
| Juvenile Probation Officers | 1,706 | 10.9% |
| Chief People Officers | 1,240 | 7.9% |
| Correctional Probation Officers | 627 | 4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was probation officers, with 2,409 unique job postings. Probation and parole officers were second, with 729 postings, followed by juvenile probation officers, chief people officers and correctional probation officers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to parole agents.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Probation Officers | 5,647 | 36.1% |
| Probation and Parole Officers | 2,212 | 14.2% |
| Juvenile Probation Officers | 1,706 | 10.9% |
| Chief People Officers | 1,240 | 7.9% |
| Correctional Probation Officers | 627 | 4% |
| Parole Officers | 447 | 2.9% |
| Adult Probation Officers | 399 | 2.6% |
| Parole/Probation Specialists | 343 | 2.2% |
| Attendance Officers | 360 | 2.3% |
| Deputy Probation Officers | 314 | 2% |
| Parole Agents | 210 | 1.3% |
| Juvenile Supervision Officers | 205 | 1.3% |
| Juvenile Probation Parole Specialists | 230 | 1.5% |
| DCC Parole/Probation Officers | 340 | 2.2% |
| Adult Probation and Parole Officers | 461 | 3% |
| Classification Officers | 161 | 1% |
| Deputy Juvenile Officers | 155 | 1% |
| Community Supervision Officers | 119 | 0.8% |
| Juvenile Probation Parole Officers | 313 | 2% |
| Deputy Chief Probation Officers | 137 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for parole agents? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for parole agents.
How much do parole agents make?
Parole Agents: 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.