Job Description of a Parole Officer:

                         Parole officers are employed only in the Division of 
                    Parole and are primarily assigned to area field offices or 
                    temporary release units within a geographic region of the 
                    state.  Parole officers provide supervision, guidance and 
                    control over an assigned caseload of parolees, and both 
                    assist in the resolution of their problems, and determine 
                    their conditions of parole and their degree of compliance 
                    with them.

                         A small number of parole officers are assigned to 
                    special programs which are described at the end of this 
                    job description.  Parole officers can be reassigned 
                    between functions and are expected to be able to perform 
                    all the basic duties of the position as required.

                         A parole officer guides and direct parolees during 
                    their period of adjustment from incarceration to normal 
                    community life, investigates and takes appropriate action 
                    concerning possible parole violations, new crimes and 
                    other unacceptable behavior, and represents the agency at 
                    hearings, concerning alleged violations. 

                         Under the Differential Supervision Program, the size 
                    of the caseload will vary in relation to the period of 
                    time the releasee has successfully completed under 
                    supervision.

                         The activities include continuous counseling, 
                    direction and supervision over those offenders assigned to 
                    their supervision.  They provide and obtain information, 
                    solve problems, affect positive behavior and monitor 
                    compliance with the law.  Discussions with relatives, 
                    friends, law enforcement and social service agencies, 
                    employers, concerning the parolees or inmates are also 
                    common.  The parole officers receive direct assistance 
                    with their cases from their supervisors and are required 
                    to prepare detailed reports concerning case activities.  
                    As peace officers, parole officers are trained in the use 
                    of firearms and deadly physical force and are prepared to 
                    apprehend and arrest violators.  They must be certified as 
                    peace officers by the Division of Criminal Justice 
                    Services and must pass a mandatory training program 
                    approved by the Municipal Police Training Council during 
                    the course of their probationary service.  
     
                         Parole officers are additionally required to 
                    successfully complete annual in-service training during 
                    their entire term of service within the division.

                         Parole officers conduct individual, group and family 
                    counselling.  They are the primary therapists employed to 
                    treat clients.  In general, they engage clients and their 
                    families in therapeutic activities designed to reverse 
                    criminal attitudes as well as to reverse negative behavior 
                    trends that have resulted in dysfunctional behavior.

                         A major task is to assist clients in developing a 
                    comprehensive program of vocational rehabilitation that 
                    can lead to stable employment, thereby assisting reentry 
                    into and continuance in the community.  In accomplishing 
                    this latter goal, they secure information relative to 
                    employment and training and maintain a liaison with the 
                    public and private agencies and businesses that will 
                    promote the placement of parolees.  The parole officer 
                    develops practical goals with clients through counseling 
                    techniques aimed at providing her clients with a realistic 
                    awareness of their skills, interests and aptitudes in 
                    juxtaposition to a realistic awareness of the world of 
                    work in their community.