Probation Officer

Probation and parole officers have a critical responsibility in criminal justice system. They play the role of investigation and supervision of offenders under probation or on supervised release. Primarily, they are charged with two roles, a social worker and law enforcement agent. For the first role, they assist in rehabilitation and reintegration of a probationer into the community. With regards to the second role, their aim is to protect the public and enforce court orders. Probationers and parolees are assigned to an officer’s caseload subject to the nature offense committed. Probation officers carry out field visits to monitor probationers’ behavior. The visits may involve going to their homes, workplace or at times are called in to the probation office. In New Jersey, probation officers serve to protect the communities by ensuring that offenders on their …show more content…
They can only arrest probationers. Parole officers in New Jersey are categorized peace officers with unlimited powers to arrest. Parole officers are allowed to carry firearms while on duty but when off-duty it’s upon their discretion. In my opinion, I do not agree with the position of the state as both Probation officers and Parole officers are exposed to same dangers. Despite the stability in relation to crime statistics, rising number of offenders are placed on probation and others released on parole because of overcrowding in the prison system. Decades ago chances were a probation officer was supervising low-risk probationers, while violent criminals were sentenced to imprisonment. Currently, probation officers have to supervise dangerous offenders who may include drug dealers, gang members and even violent criminal parolees. It is therefore imperative that the law be amended to allow probation officers to carry