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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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41311.00 – Probation and parole officers

Probation officers monitor the conduct and behaviour of criminal offenders serving probation terms and serving sentences of two years less a day. They are employed by provincial government. Parole officers monitor the reintegration of criminal offenders serving the remainder of sentences on conditional release and individuals that are subject to a long term supervision order. They also assess inmates and develop rehabilitation programs for criminal offenders who are incarcerated in correctional facilities.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Parole officer
  • Probation officer

Core competencies

  • Persuading to encourage offenders to adopt positive behaviours, adhere to probation or parole conditions and engage in rehabilitation programs
  • Social Perceptiveness to be sympathetic to the social and cultural background of offenders to develop effective rehabilitation programs by establishing rules of conduct, goals and objectives
  • Problem Identification to evaluate offenders' progress in meeting goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans
  • Verbal Ability and Speech Clarity to interview offenders, police, family, friends, school authorities and employers for pre-sentence reports
  • Stress Tolerance to remain calm in stressful situations to make decisions can have significant consequences on offenders' lives and community safety
  • Knowledge in Public Safety and Security to understand common issues when reintegrating criminal offenders to communities to assess the potential for reoffending, adjustment issues and beneficial interventions

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Interview inmates to assess adjustment problems and develop suitable rehabilitation programs
  • Prepare reports for the recommendation of security level, penitentiary placement, type of incarceration and types of interventions considered most beneficial for the rehabilitation of the inmates
  • Interview offenders, police, family, friends, school authorities and employers to prepare pre-sentence reports and assess offenders' prospects for successful reintegration into the community
  • Plan rehabilitation programs with inmates, establishing rules of conduct, goals and objectives
  • Refer inmates and offenders to community and social service programs, as required
  • Supervise the terms of a probation order and attend court
  • Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans
  • Recommend remedial action or initiate court action when terms of probation or parole are violated
  • Attend court proceedings to provide expert testimony on an inmate’s case as well as detention and dangerous offenders status court rulings
  • May perform administrative duties and supervise support staff
  • May participate in policy development.

Additional information

  • Progression to correctional service management positions is possible with additional training or experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Correctional service officers (43201)
  • Managers in social, community and correctional services (40030)
  • Social and community service workers (42201)
  • Social workers (41300)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

41 – Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government services

Sub-major group

413 – Professional occupations in social and community services

Minor group

4131 – Police investigators and probation officers

Unit group

41311 – Probation and parole officers

Occupational profile

41311.00 – Probation and parole officers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.