Seventy-eight joint adult probation/parole officers oversaw the cases of offenders on parole and probation in Rhode Island when the latest figures were released in July 2010. These officers are part of the correctional supervision program within Rhode Island’s Division of Rehabilitative Services. This Division is a component of the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Rhode Island.
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In an effort to help adult probation and parole officers become familiar with the local services available within their region, probation and parole officers in Rhode Island usually spend their entire careers serving just one of the eight specific judicial regions in the state, of which South/Washington County is one. The district probation/parole office for Washington County is located in Wakefield, where many of the area’s probation and parole officer jobs are based.
Requirements for Probation and Parole Officers in Washington County
Applicants for probation/parole officer jobs in Washington County must be between 21 and 37 years of age. Additional requirements include having a driver’s license that is valid in Rhode Island and a bachelor’s degree. This degree must be in a field such as one of the behavioral sciences, business or public administration, social work, or criminal justice.
New officers learn how to become probation/parole officers in Washington County through training provided by Rhode Island’s DOC. They must be certified before they can begin their careers as probation/parole officers. Additional training is provided as needed, such as updates on how to detect human trafficking perpetrators and victims.
Probation Parole Officer Job Duties in Washington County
Probation/parole careers help offenders integrate back into society while at the same time protecting public safety. Supervision, monitoring, and providing services are the main functions of probation/parole officers in Washington County.
Some probationers and parolees are monitored much more closely than others. This includes sex offenders, domestic violence perpetrators, and those involved in Drug Courts.
In other cases, it becomes clear that the individuals are complying with the terms of their sentences and have become less of a threat to public safety. Of the nearly 25,000 people on probation or parole in Rhode Island, 1,117 were under low levels of supervision in January 2013.
The availability of community serves can make a large difference in the likelihood of an offender becoming a productive and law-abiding part of society. Mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, job training, and affordable housing are some of the services that probation/parole officers in Washington County help their clients to use.