Probation Officer vs. Parole Officer: Key Differences and Insights

By Kathy Hieatt  |  09/29/2026

Probation and parole officers play an important role in the criminal justice system. While both careers require many of the same skills and job duties, they have distinct roles and responsibilities. 

Their goal is the same: help rehabilitate offenders while protecting public safety.

“Probation and parole is unique to law enforcement,” said Jamie Ortel, a Louisiana probation and parole officer, in an interview posted by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Probation and parole officers supervise probationers and parolees through a process known as community supervision, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. They help their clients maintain employment, get housing, and fulfill other requirements to avoid incarceration post-conviction.

The key difference is that probation officers are responsible for individuals placed on probation instead of going to jail. By contrast, parole officers are responsible for people being released from prison after serving part of their sentence.

“These officers require parolees and probationers to keep in contact regularly by scheduling either telephone calls or office visits. They also check on them at their homes or places of work, taking into account the safety of the neighborhood,” according to BLS.

“Probation and parole officers note mental health considerations and oversee drug testing and electronic monitoring of those under supervision. In some states, workers perform the duties of both probation and parole officers.”

It's an in-demand field, with nearly four million Americans on probation or parole as of 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Job Duties of A Probation Officer

Probation officers work supervising offenders who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to probation in lieu of jail, often called community-based supervision.

Probationers are typically nonviolent offenders who have committed lower-level or first-time offenses and are not considered a risk to the community.

Probation occurs at the sentencing stage of the local court based on a pre-sentence investigation of the offender’s background, including any previous convictions.

In this role, the probation officer meets with the offender and develops a treatment plan to support their rehabilitation. That plan outlines the best course of action to comply with probation, including any rules imposed by the offender’s sentencing judge, such as: 

• Finding employment and/or going to school requirements
• Paying any fines, restitution, and child support
• Going for regular drug and/or alcohol testing
• Fulfilling community service requirements
• Attending counseling and other rehabilitation programs, such as anger management and drug and alcohol treatment
• Avoiding criminal associates
• Refraining from contact with victims and/or complying with any protective orders
• Obeying the law and incurring no further criminal charges
• Submitting to electronic monitoring with an ankle monitor
• Using an ignition interlock so that the offender cannot drive when intoxicated
• Following travel restrictions

Failure to comply can result in jail time or other serious consequences.

Probation officers regularly check in with their probationers to monitor their progress and compliance with these requirements. They conduct work and home visits and summarize their findings in case files for the court.

“The thing I enjoy most about being a probation and parole officer is going out there and helping someone changing their life, providing resources that they may not have gotten without us being involved in their life,” Ortel said.

Job Duties of A Parole Officer

In contrast, parole officers’ work involves monitoring offenders convicted of more serious felonies who are being released from prison, where they served a portion of their sentence under the security of correctional officers. Early release is determined by parole boards.

A parole officer’s job is to help former inmates successfully re-enter society by providing resources and developing a release plan. That plan may include: 

• Substance abuse counseling, if needed
• Job training
• Employment opportunities
• Housing

The goal is to put supports in place to help former inmates become productive citizens and avoid re-offending. The stakes are high for parolees. They can be sent back to prison to complete their sentence if they fail to comply with the requirements of their parole.

“I’m a gap between going back to jail and doing the right thing,” said Christian Reed, a Louisiana probation and parole officer, in an interview published by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.  “Sometimes we’re the first line of defense in connecting with people in the community, and I think it’s an opportunity to reach out to explain to them the conditions of their probation or conditions of their parole and continue life as a better person making better choices.”

How to Become A Probation or Parole Officer 

Becoming a probation or parole officer requires obtaining the required education and job training and developing the right skills.

Required Education and Job Training

Many jurisdictions require that parole and probation officers have a bachelor’s degree and specialty training, according to the BLS. You will likely be expected to pass an oral, written, and psychological exam, as well as undergo drug testing and a background check.

Most parole and probation officers work for state and local government agencies, comprising 53% and 45% of jobs, respectively, the BLS reports. Some of these officers also work as personnel for the federal government, which may require a graduate degree. They work full-time in addition to being on call 24 hours a day.

Probation and parole positions aren’t desk jobs. They require frequent travel to attend courtroom hearings and check in with those under their supervision at home and work, according to the BLS.

Common areas of study include criminal justice, social work, psychology, and related fields.

Once you’ve landed a job as a probation or parole officer, you’ll complete training specific to your employer. Some employers require you to work a year as a trainee before being offered a permanent position, the BLS reports.

Ortel has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She also completed post-academy training to become a probation and parole officer in Louisiana.

With additional training, you may choose to specialize in areas such as domestic violence, substance abuse, or juveniles. For example, Placer County, California, has a Homeless Liaison Team that helps unhoused individuals on probation. This population has specialized needs such as transportation to court, said Senior Probation Officer Merredith Murdock, a member of the team, in an interview published by Placer County.

“We’ve built a great rapport with a lot of these individuals. They feel much more comfortable speaking with us. If there’s an issue, they know that they can turn to us and we can assist them with getting them treatment or housing, linking them back with their family, or reunifying them with their children,” Murdock said. “So we’ve definitely bridged that gap between law enforcement and health and human services and then the homeless population.”

Probation typically lasts for a period of three to five years, according to Murdock.

“When you see some of these success stories, it’s very rewarding,” she said. “It makes you feel very happy to be doing a job like this that you can really make a difference in people’s lives and make a real positive change also for the community.”

Promotions – such as to supervisory roles – are usually based on experience and performance, and may require an advanced degree, according to the BLS.

What Skills Make A Good Parole and Probation Officer?

Probation and parole officers have to be comfortable working with people convicted of crimes, attending court, visiting inmates in correctional facilities, and visiting locations in unknown or high-crime areas. 

Essential skills and qualities include:

• Effective oral and written communication
• Empathy
• Critical thinking
• Broad knowledge of the criminal justice system, including case law and sentencing guidelines
• Decision-making
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills

• Case management
• Attention to detail
• Organizational skills

“You have to have personable skills, you have to be able to relate to others,” Ortel said. “You have to have good relationships with both the offenders and also the different departments that you’re going to work with, the judges that you come in contact with. You also have to be able to be a positive role model for those that you are going to be supervising.”

The Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at AMU

If you’re considering a career as a probation or parole officer, a great course of study to consider is AMU’s online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. The curriculum is designed to help students: 

• Learn the similarities and differences among local, state, and federal criminal justice components while gaining an international perspective
• Explore parts and components of the U.S. justice system from political and public administration standpoints
• Learn how various prevailing theories apply to elements within the criminal justice system
• Design research that, if executed, would add to the body of knowledge in the criminal justice profession
• Probe how standards of evidence and law impact criminal justice system segments and professionals

Through this course of study, students strengthen their understanding of:

• U.S. law enforcement
• Criminology
• Investigations
• Criminal law
• Juvenile justice issues
• Criminal behavior
• Corrections and incarceration

AMU is committed to making higher education attainable with flexible scheduling, online courses with no set login times, and no hidden fees thanks to:

• $0 ebooks for students at all levels
• $0 application fee for undergraduate and graduate programs
• $0 transfer credit evaluation
• No entrance exam

To earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, students complete 120 credits and can transfer up to 90 credits. Tuition costs may be offset with employer-provided tuition assistance and grants/reduced rates for military and first responders.

Classes start monthly and run 8 to 16 weeks. Explore how earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can support your educational goals.

Note: This degree program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any country, state, province, or other jurisdiction. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional licensure.