Probation Parole Officer

at  State of Montana

QUALIFICATIONS

• Probation and parole officers must have at least a college degree in a related field such as criminology, psychology, social work, sociology, or guidance and counseling and some formal training in behavioral sciences.
• Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the department. Related work experience in the areas listed in subsection (1)(b) may be substituted for educational requirements at the rate of 1 year of experience for 9 months formal education if approved by the department. All present employees are exempt from this requirement but are encouraged to further their education at the earliest opportunity. (b) Work experience that may be substituted for the educational requirements in subsection (1)(a) includes experience in the areas of corrections/detention, criminology, education, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, law, law enforcement, social work, sociology, psychiatric nursing, or guidance and counseling.
  Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.
  Training Assignment: Not Applicable
  Salary: $ 25.58 - 25.58 Hourly
  Telework Eligibility: Not Telework Eligible
  Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan
  Number of Openings: 1
  Employee Status: Regular
  Schedule: Full-Time
  Job Type: Standard
  Shift: Day Job
  Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time
  Primary Location: Billings
  Agency: Department of Corrections
  Union: Montana Federation of Public Employees
  Posting Date: Jan 27, 2025, 10:44:55 AM
  Closing Date (based on your computer’s timezone): Feb 18, 2025, 12:59:00 AM
  Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume
  Contact Name: Brianna Johnson | Contact Email: brianna.johnson2@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 406-444-1511

JOB OVERVIEW – This position, guided by the Department of Corrections (DOC) mission, plays a central role in managing the correctional population, promoting public safety and encouraging offenders to make positive life changing decisions for their future. To carry out this responsibility:

• The officer cooperates with, and solicits information from, the public and criminal justice system and supervises and counsels 80-100 offenders.
• Must have skills and abilities to equally balance social work and law enforcement duties.
• The officer conducts pre-sentence investigations and makes placement recommendations concerning those offenders sentenced to DOC. These investigations are completed with cooperation from other criminal justices’ agencies and by using investigative skills; knowledge of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to probation, parole, incarceration, rehabilitation and treatment programs, as well as knowledge of behavioral science.
• The officer then makes recommendations for rehabilitation, treatment plans, conditions of probation, the need for incarceration, and appropriate level (i.e. local jail or Montana State Prison) to the District Court and Parole Board through a written pre-sentence investigation report.
• Officers refer offenders to appropriate resources or programs using departments supervision standards, a risk and needs assessment as well as knowledge of state and community resources and monitors the progress of the client for compliance.
• Officers investigate alleged violations of probation or parole using knowledge of policies & procedures pertaining to violations, search warrants & investigations.
• Officers arrest and detain violators and testify in district court and information hearings relative to sentencing or revocation of client’s probation or parole status.
• Officers are trained to handle situations if probation & parole offenders or inmates become hostile & pose a physical threat. This requires the use of Oleoresin Capsicum “O.C. Spray” and firearms and carrying handcuffs.
• Work is of the nature that Officers may work varying schedules to include nights and week-end hours and that the Officer may be called back to work at any hour of the day or night and be available 24/7 when called upon to assist any Department of Corrections Facility or Law Enforcement Agency. The Officer needs to physically make an arrest, defend selves, in high-risk volatile scenarios in and away from the office.
• Travel for job may be required up to 10% of the time in addition to travel for training