Probation and parole officers
Career Overview
Probation officers:
- Check on the conduct and behaviour of criminal offenders serving probation terms
Parole officers:
- Observe criminal offenders serving the remainder of sentences while being released into the community on parole under certain conditions
People in this group:
- Work for federal and provincial governments
- Work in the community and in correctional facilities
Job Titles
Duties
Probation and parole officers:
- Interview offenders, police, family, friends, school authorities and employers to prepare pre-sentence reports and assess offenders' prospects for successful re-entry into the community
- Plan rehabilitation programs with offenders, establishing rules of conduct, goals and objectives
- Refer offenders to community and social service programs, as needed
- Supervise the terms of a probation order and attend court
- Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans
- Recommend corrective action or start court action when terms of probation or parole are violated
- Attend court proceedings to provide expert testimony on an inmate's case, as well ass detention and dangerous offenders status court rulings
- May perform office management duties and supervise support staff
- May participate in policy development
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
900% Employed Full Time
79%Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.
Career Pathways
Progression to correctional service management positions is possible with additional training or experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A bachelor's degree in social work, criminology, psychology, sociology or other related social science discipline is required
- A master's degree in social work, criminology, psychology or other related social science discipline may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Criminal Justice/Criminology
- Human/Social Service Work
- Psychology (Arts)
- Psychology (Science)
- Criminology/Criminal Justice
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
900Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 55 | 6.1% |
| Kootenay | 25 | 2.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 505 | 56.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 50 | 5.6% |
| Northeast | 15 | 1.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 90 | 10.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 160 | 17.8% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
280Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -0.2% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 180 | 1.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -1.0% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 0.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 280 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.