Probation and Parole Officer

Job Description

Probation and Parole Officer

The State of Tennessee Department of Correction is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Probation and Parole Officer. This is a full-time, professional-level position responsible for probation and parole work of average difficulty, involving the supervision of a caseload of probationers and/or parolees.

Job Information

• Opening Date/Time: 04/07/2026 12:00 AM Central Time
• Closing Date/Time: 04/20/2026 11:59 PM Central Time
• Salary (Monthly): $4,057.00 – $5,078.00
• Salary (Annually): $48,684.00 – $60,936.00
• Job Type: Full-Time
• City, State Location: Chattanooga, TN
• Department: Correction, Probation and Parole Field Supervision Division, Hamilton County
• Number of Positions: 2
• Additional Information: For more details, visit https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/correction/documents/PPO2JobID76384.pdf

Important Notes:

• A Motor Vehicle Records screening will be conducted prior to employment.
• This position requires a criminal background check. You may be required to provide information about your criminal history.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree and experience equivalent to one year of full-time professional level experience in one or more of the following areas: probation/parole, counseling, social work, investigative, or legal experience.

Substitution Options:

• Substitution of Experience for Education: Full-time relevant professional experience, including law enforcement experience, may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Substitution of Graduate Course Work for Experience: Graduate course credit received from an accredited college or university in social science, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, social work, and/or law may be substituted for the required experience to a maximum of one year (e.g., an additional 36 graduate quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience).

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Applicants for this class must:

• 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 course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy and any and all on-line training.

Examination Method:

Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview of the Position

Under general direction, the Probation and Parole Officer is responsible for professional probation and parole work of average difficulty. This is the working level class in the Prob/Par Officer sub-series, supervising a caseload of probationers and/or parolees. This role performs duties beyond entry-level (Prob/Par Officer 1) and does not involve leading others in probation and/or parole work (Prob/Par Officer 3).

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of a Probation and Parole Officer include:

• Preparing and maintaining offenders’ records and reports; identifying criminal activities and background information for parole board requests; preparing narrative reports of investigation processes; totaling caseload activities for monthly reports.
• Conducting searches of offender residences, vehicles, and persons as required by policy.
• Interviewing probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress, goal accomplishment, and adherence to probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
• Conducting pre-hearing and pre-release investigations and testifying in court regarding offenders’ backgrounds and recommended sentences/conditions as required by policy.
• Searching state, local, and federal databases for incidents and additional information related to offenders.
• Acting as a liaison with judges, court personnel, law enforcement, and other agencies concerned with the probation/parole program.
• Requesting arrest warrants for non-compliance by offenders as required by policy and procedures, and utilizing compiled offender information to determine proper treatment steps.
• Handling offender complaints and grievances quickly and professionally as required by policy and procedures.
• Investigating significant offender and staff-related events to determine if incident reports are required by policy and procedures.
• Assisting offenders in decision-making processes and using designated assessment tools to determine their risk level and frequency of needed services.
• Developing appropriate sanctions for offender noncompliance with their conditions of release.
• Developing a transitional accountability plan informing offenders of conditional release requirements, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.
• Monitoring offenders under supervision to ensure compliance with release requirements set by policy and procedures.

Competencies (KSA’s)

Competencies:

• Plans and Aligns
• Communicates Effectively
• Resourcefulness
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness
• Collaborates

Knowledges:

• Administration and Management
• Clerical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government
• Public Safety and Security

Skills:

• Complex Problem Solving
• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring

Abilities:

• Deductive Reasoning
• Auditory Attention
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity

Tools & Equipment

• Personal Computer
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Printer
• Motor Vehicles