Probation and parole services in Washington D.C. are provided by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). There are currently 931 employees within CSOSA who work throughout the agency’s seven field offices throughout the city.
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As of April 2013, the offender population in Washington D.C. was 14,922, 55 percent of whom were on probation and 13 percent of whom were on parole. Of those offenders on probation and parole, 35 percent were under intensive/maximum level supervision; 54 percent were on active status; and 10 percent had an active warrant.
Washington, D.C. Probation and Parole Officer Jobs: Minimum Requirements
Individuals interested in attaining Washington, D.C. – based probation and parole officer jobs must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher in a program related to the behavioral or social sciences conferred by an accredited college or university. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher in a discipline related to the behavioral or social sciences must show proof of at least 24 semester hours in the behavioral or social sciences. Further, they must have at least one year of experience.
Candidates interested in learning how to become a probation and parole officer in Washington, D.C. may also qualify if they possess at least four years of appropriate experience that show the candidate has acquired knowledge in the social or behavioral sciences through their experience and training.
All new probation and parole officers in Washington, D.C. must also complete a course of initial training during the first year and subsequent annual training throughout their careers.
The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)
The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)was created in 1997 by Congress and is now a certified, independent agency of the Executive Branch. CSOSA took over probation services from the D.C. Superior Court and parole services from the D.C. Board of Parole. The District of Columbia’s state-level responsibilities for probation and parole services were relieved upon the establishment of the CSOSA in 2000.
The Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), although organized within the CSOSA, is an independent entity and has its own budget and support services.
The CSOSA provides community supervision services to the District of Columbia through seven field offices and several program offices:
- 300 Indiana Avenue NW
- 601 Indiana Avenue NW
- 633 Indiana Avenue NW
- Anacostia Field Unit, 1418 Good Hope Road SE
- K Street Field Unit, 25 K Street NE
- North Capitol Field Unit, 800 North Capitol Street NW
- Reentry and Sanctions Center, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue SE
- Rhode Island Avenue Field Unit, 910 Rhode Island Avenue NE
- Southeast Field Unit, 3850 South Capitol Street SE
- St. Luke’s, 4923 East Capitol Street SE
- Taylor Street Field Unit ,1230 Taylor Street NW
- VOTEE, 4415 South Capitol Street SW
Community Supervision Services Branches
The Community Supervision Services Division is divided into 9 branches:
- Branch I: Diagnostic and Evaluation Resources
- Branches IIA and IIB: General Supervision
- Branch III: Substance Abuse and Treatment
- Branch IV: Special Supervision – Domestic Violence
- Branch V: Interstate Compact and Detainers
- Branch VI: Illegal Substance Abuse Collection Unit
- Branch VII: Sex Offender Supervision
- Branch VIII: Intake/Offender Processing
Probation and parole officers in Washington, D.C. may also work through one of the CSOSA’s specialized programs:
- Substance abuse treatment
- Vocational and educational programs
- Day Reporting Center
- Reentry and Sanctions Center
- Traffic Alcohol Program
- Transitional Intervention for Parole Supervision
- Violence Reduction Program