Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
What they do
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
Expected pay range
Expected pay range
This represents the median earnings for this career in the selected county or state. In the range shown, 25% of workers earned less than the bottom salary and 25% earned more than the top salary. Data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
About probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
Other titles
Adult Probation Officer, Correctional Counselor, Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), Juvenile Probation Officer, Parole Agent, Parole Officer (PO), Probation Agent, Probation and Parole Officer, Probation Counselor, Probation Officer
Tasks they perform
- Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
- Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
- Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
Skills they need
- Active Listening - 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.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Licenses and Certifications
How to decide which one is right? That depends on an individual’s career path, specialty, and resources.
SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT PROVIDER
Texas Health and Human Services Commission~Licensing, Credentialing and Regulation
https://hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/licensing-credentialing-regulation
- License Type
- Stand-alone license
- Status
- Active
- Exam
- No exam required
- Education
- Degree required
- Continuing education
- Continuing education required to maintain license
- Criminal record
- Specific type of conviction prohibited
Certifications
Certifications may be available for this career and can help build knowledge and skills in specific job roles. Explore available certifications (external link opens new tab)
Similar careers
View careers in the same field as probation officers and correctional treatment specialists.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Better pay
Median salary for this career is higher than the median salary of all careers in the county selected. Salary data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
In demand
In demand careers have high-growth, high-demand, and emerging jobs critical to Texas. They are based on economic indicators like in demand industries, labor market trends, and economic conditions, provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Mental Health Counselors
Additional career information and resources
Learn more about probation officers and correctional treatment specialists with these helpful sites.
- American Correctional Association (external link opens new tab)
- American Probation and Parole Association (external link opens new tab)
- Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (external link opens new tab)
- Fraternal Order of Police (external link opens new tab)
- National Association of Forensic Counselors (external link opens new tab)
- National Association of Social Workers (external link opens new tab)
- National Council on Crime and Delinquency (external link opens new tab)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (external link opens new tab)