In 2011, El Paso County was home to 820,790 residents, 2,208 of which were confined to state prisons. During this period, 1,232 offenders were released into the community, with 779 of these under parole supervision. There were 33 offenders under Community Supervision, and 420 who were unsupervised after having completed their sentences. Seventy-four of these offenders were re-incarcerated for technical violations or new offenses.
El Paso serves as the county seat of El Paso County and shares its metropolitan area with that of the Mexican town of Juarez. El Paso is the site for two district offices of Region V of the Parole Division. This region is headquartered in Midland, and has offices in Amarillo, Abilene, and Odessa.
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Education and Training to Become a Parole Officer El Paso, Texas
The Parole Division hires applicants to fill El Paso’s vacant parole officer jobs if they meet the following standards:
- Possession of a bachelor’s degree is required to become a parole officer in El Paso (preferably with substantial coursework in one or more of the following areas):
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Criminal justice
- Social work
- Counseling
- U.S. citizen
- 18 years or older
- Possession of a valid Texas driver’s license
- No dishonorable military discharges
- No domestic violence or felony convictions
The competition for parole jobs in El Paso may be quite intense, so applicants are encouraged to pursue a post-graduate degree to improve the likelihood of receiving employment.
New officers must complete a basic training program held at the Parole Officer Training Academy. Within six months of hiring, officers must complete the course on policies and procedures for the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.
Parole officers must receive 20 hours of division approved training annually after the first year.
El Paso’s Special Needs Offender Program (SNOP)
The Parole Division has instituted a program for offenders with medical or mental impairments designated as the Special Needs Offender Program (SNOP). Parole officers work with community agencies to provide a continuum of care that seamlessly transitions offenders from prison treatment to community-based programs. Parole offices may have Continuity of Care workers who partner with the supervising parole officer and develop a supervision plan.
Sex offenders on parole are closely supervised in El Paso. Parole officers who supervise sex offenders must complete the Sex Offender Specialized Officer Supervision School. Parole officers who manage sex offenders are limited to 30 cases to optimize supervision. In addition to registering on a sex offender registry, some sex offenders may be required to wear electronic devices and provide movement information. The number of offenders designated is expected to decline after a judicial ruling in 2011 that disallows the Board of Pardons and Parole to label an offender with that designation, unless the offender has committed a sex offense. Prior to the ruling, the Board had the authority to brand offenders if there was a sexual component in their crime.