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When prisoners are released from prison, they often require supervision as they reintegrate into society.
The task of this supervision is given to a parole officer.
Much like a probation officer, the parole officer works with those who have broken the law.
The difference is that the probation officer is in charge of those who commit lesser crimes and do not go to jail.
The parole officer has only clients who have done prison time.
Some are still in the middle of their time, allowed out for good behavior, and others have done their time completely.
In either case, becoming readjusted to society is often a difficult task.
The parole officer not only supervises but also helps find housing, a job, schooling, and even psychological help when needed.
Pros of Being a Parole Officer
1. Chance to Help Others
One of the biggest pros of being a parole officer is the ability you have to make a big difference in somebody’s life.
When a person has been released from prison, they are released into a world that may have changed drastically since they entered the prison.
This alone can be overwhelming.
Add the fact that society may not be willing to give the former prisoner a fair chance, and you are facing the prisoner being set up for failure in society, even though they may want desperately to put their past behind them.
As a parole officer, you are their help in getting society to give them a chance.
2. Job Security
There have been criminals since time began, and there is no chance they are going to disappear anytime soon.
With this said, there will always be a need for people to help prisoners re-enter society.
There are not a lot of people who consider this to be their ideal career, so it is always a safe bet that you can find employment and have plenty of work to do.
3. Good Benefits
The benefits of a parole officer position are pretty good.
You will get at least two weeks of vacation each year, and more with time on the job.
You get paid for personal and sick days.
There is normally a retirement plan that offers great benefits when you retire, and there are many paid holidays.
In addition, you will have both life and medical insurance.
More and more places are also offering paid family leave.
4. Minimal Educational Requirements
You won’t be facing the need for a Master’s degree.
Most positions require only a Bachelor’s.
You also will not have to undergo the extensive training required of many other law enforcement personnel.
The degrees that are accepted don’t even have to be in criminal justice.
Degrees in social work and psychology are very often considered appropriate.
In some rare cases, years of experience in a related field may be substituted for the degree.
5. Help Former Prisoners Become Good Citizens
Prisoners who have done their time deserve a chance to become good citizens.
With the help of a good probation officer, they can get a place to live and a job.
They can also receive all the educational and emotional support they may need to change their mindset and understand how to deal with adversity more positively.
As a parole officer, you are the former criminal’s path to becoming a useful member of society.
6. Day Activity Varies
You won’t be bored by having to do the same thing day after day.
It is unlikely that you will ever have two days in a row that are the same.
You will find yourself making phone calls one day to set up job interviews, talking to employers another day, doing home visits or check-ins with clients on another day, and maybe attending a court hearing on yet another.
Life as a parole officer is full of variety.
7. Moments of Great Satisfaction
When you see one of your clients succeed, you feel pride in their accomplishment because you know that you have been an essential part of this success.
Your clients become almost like your children because you want to see them succeed so much.
You want to see them grow and progress after a mistake.
When this happens, you feel proud of their accomplishment.
You also feel proud of yourself for sticking by them and giving support and guidance.
Cons of Being a Parole Officer
1. Going Into Dangerous Situations
You are very unlikely to be visiting many ritzy, high-class areas of the city when you visit parolees.
Most either return to the high-crime areas they may have come from, where gangs and drugs are openly seen.
You may be facing areas where you are perceived as the enemy and set up to be targeted.
You are also possibly going to face violent situations if one of your clients takes a backward step and can’t control their anger.
This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of situations you may find yourself in.
This is one reason many parole officers get their license to carry.
2. Paperwork Seems Neverending
Every single detail of each client’s life must be recorded.
Parole officers often find themselves taking the paperwork home to complete in the evening because their days are full of appointments, and they can’t find time to complete it.
Some of the things that need to be recorded are job search data, results of interviews and check-ins, details on activities like schooling and court hearings, and other day-to-day activities.
3. Deal With Pessimistic People
It can be hard for the parolee to maintain a positive attitude when they are met with daily rejection.
They can become pessimistic, and this energy starts to affect the parole officer.
It isn’t just the parolee either.
Those who might offer a job or place to live may be hesitant to give the parolee a chance and may be very negative in demeanor.
4. Psychological Burnout
You can’t be so closely involved with people daily and not begin to feel the psychological strain.
Many parole officers put aside their own emotional needs to give to clients.
Eventually, their well run dry and they become not only ineffective in helping but also in maintaining their emotional health.
This is something that needs to be constantly guarded against in all helping professions.
5. Heavy Caseloads
There are not enough parole officers to effectively allow light loads for any parole officer.
The number of parolees is ever-increasing, and parole officers may find themselves overwhelmed with the number of people they are responsible for.
This can lead to a lack of the best work you are capable of giving because you are spread so thinly.
There is a large turnover of parole officers for this reason, especially since the pay isn’t the highest.
6. Contact With Many People Every Day
If you are someone who does not do well with constant social interaction, this can be a daunting job.
The parole officer comes into almost constant contact with people daily.
There are all types of people, and many are not pleasant.
Sometimes, the lack of personal quiet time can cause a less sociable person to feel drained both physically and psychologically regularly, even to the point of causing physical illness.
7. Opposition From All Directions
The parole officer is likely to face opposition from every direction.
While the parolee may understand the parole officer is there to help, part of their mind will see the parole officer as an extension of the prison system they are trying to get away from.
Their friends and family may also feel the same way.
Then there is the opposition of society itself.
So many are unwilling to give the parolee a second chance.
This creates a vicious circle of society being suspicious of the parolee, the parolee feeling angry at the lack of a chance and striking out, and then society feeling they were correct.
And the parole officer is caught in the middle of this circle.
This is yet one more task of the parole officer, to break that cycle.
Pros and Cons of Being a Parole Officer – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Parole Officer | Cons of Being a Parole Officer |
|---|---|
| 1. Chance to Help Others | 1. Going Into Dangerous Situations |
| 2. Job Security | 2. Paperwork Seems Neverending |
| 3. Good Benefits | 3. Deal With Pessimistic People |
| 4. Minimal Educational Requirements | 4. Psychological Burnout |
| 5. Help Former Prisoners Become Good Citizens | 5. Heavy Caseloads |
| 6. Days Activity Varies | 6. Contact With Many People Every Day |
| 7. Moments of Great Satisfaction | 7. Opposition From All Directions |
Should You Become a Parole Officer?
Becoming a parole officer is something that needs to be undertaken with complete knowledge that you will often feel underappreciated, opposed, and considered the enemy.
It is also a job where you can experience great enjoyment and pride when there are successes with your clients.
The benefits are good, but the pay may be low.
It will often make you wonder if it is worth it.
This is not a job for everyone, but if you have the firm belief that a person can recover after a mistake and deserves a chance, this is your opportunity to help make that happen.
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