With more than 603,000 residents, Tulsa County is the second most populous county in Oklahoma and home to the second largest city, Tulsa. Probation and parole supervision in this county is combined into one agency the Division of Community Corrections, with officers authorized to manage both parolees and probationers. Due to the large population of offenders in the county, there are a variety of programs established to monitor and facilitate rehabilitation.
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The Parole Unit of Tulsa Community Corrections consists of four dedicated officers, one of whom is a female supervisor in charge of female offenders. These Probation and Parole Officers initiate their supervision while the offenders are still in detention. They assess offender needs and generate a pre-release plan to meet those requirements. Special care is paid to reentry need needs like mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, anger management and education or training. This unit uses an array of intermediate sanctions to correct minor or technical violations.
Degree and Other Requirements for Probation and Parole Officers in Tulsa County
All Probation and Parole Officers must have at least a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester hours in one or more of the following fields:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Penology
- Police science
- Criminal justice administration
- Social work
- Sociology
- Education
Many applicants to these jobs are likely to possess strong qualifications, so it is advisable to have strong academic credentials that may include an advanced degree or prior experience in a community corrections related field. This experience is often available through internships or volunteer opportunities in the Tulsa area.
Other employment requirements include
- Possession of a valid Oklahoma driver’s license
- Ability to obtain a peace officer commission
- No felony, crime of moral turpitude or sex offense convictions
- No domestic violence convictions
- Ability to pass a drug test
Upon hiring, new officers must enroll in and complete the Basic Peace Officer Training Program. This 14-week program takes place at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. There is a firearms component of training, which must be re-qualified annually with 25 hours of additional training.
Probation and Parole Programs in Tulsa County
Tulsa County also has three officers assigned to the GPS and Electronic Monitoring Program, which currently includes 108 offenders. Offenders are monitored closely to ensure that they are complying with the requirements of the program that include recharging equipment and maintaining devices in proper working order. The EMP program also utilizes equipment to monitor blood alcohol levels, which is used to supervise offenders in the first 90 days of supervision.
Tulsa County established the Drug Court in 1996, which has five assigned PPO officers. Each officer supervises almost 65 cases and utilizes home visits, assessments, and a strict regimen for substance recovery. The Drug Court uses a five stage program which involves testing, curfews, rewards, and fee waivers. Upon graduation from the program, offenders may seek to have their case dismissed or withdrawn.