What Do Parole Officers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for parole officers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what parole officers 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 Officers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about parole officers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Parole Officers 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 Officers
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 parole officers can be found.
Best Industries for Parole Officers
Parole Officers 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 parole officers can be found working in the State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 52.1% of all jobs for parole officers 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%).
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Degree Options for Parole Officers
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 Officers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what parole officers 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 officers 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 officers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for parole officers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Parole Officers
Based on 13,157 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Parole Officers
| 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 Parole Officers
| 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 parole officers, 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 parole officers, 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 Parole Officers
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 parole officers.
| 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 parole officers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for parole officers.
How much do parole officers make?
Parole Officers: How do you become one?
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