Probation​/Parole Officer

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Location of (2) position(s) to be filled: Department of Correction, Probation and Parole Field Supervision Division, Shelby County.

Background check requirement: This position requires a criminal background check. Candidates may need to provide information about their criminal history.

Education and experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree and one year of full‑time professional experience in probation/parole, counseling, social work, investigative, or legal fields, OR equivalent experience.

Substitution for education: Full‑time relevant professional experience, including law enforcement experience, may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year‑for‑year basis.

Substitution for graduate course work: Graduate course credit in social science, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, social work, or law may substitute for up to one year of the required experience.

Special qualifications:

• Be willing and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of application.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation.
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority.
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint‑based criminal history records check.
• Have no conviction for a felony or any domestic assault convictions or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces.
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position.
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position.
• Submit to and pass a pre‑employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment.
• Upon appointment, successfully complete all additional prescribed courses of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy and any and all online training.

Education and experience 100% for Preferred Service positions.

Under general direction, is responsible for professional probation and parole work of average difficulty and performs related work as required. This is the working level class in the Prob/Par Officer sub‑series. An employee in this class supervises a caseload of probationers and/or parolees. The class is flexibly staffed with and differs from the Prob/Par Officer 1 in that an incumbent of the latter performs entry‑level work.

The class differs from the Prob/Par Officer 3 in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for leading others in probation and/or parole work.

• Prepare and maintain offenders’ records and reports; identify criminal activities and background information in reports or standard forms which answer special requests by the parole board; prepare narrative reports of the investigation process; total caseload activities when preparing monthly reports.
• Conduct searches of offender residences, vehicles, and persons as required by policy and interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
• Conduct pre‑hearing and pre‑release investigations and testifies in court regarding their offenders backgrounds and recommended sentences and sentencing conditions as required by policy and searches on state, local, and federal databases for incidents and additional information related to their offenders.
• Act as liaison with judges, court personnel, law enforcement and other agencies concerned with the probation/parole program and who may have an effect upon the success…