Probation and Parole Officer 1

Job Description

Probation and Parole Officer 1 – State of Tennessee

This is an entry-level position within the State of Tennessee’s Department of Correction, specifically in the Probation and Parole Field Supervision Division for Madison County, Jackson, TN. The role involves performing probation and parole work under general supervision, focusing on learning and implementing services for offenders. The position is full-time and requires successful completion of a one-year training period, after which reclassification to a higher class in the series is expected.

Key Details

• Opening Date: April 7, 2026, 12:00 AM Central Time
• Closing Date: April 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
• Location: Jackson, TN (Madison County)
• Department: Correction, Probation and Parole Field Supervision Division

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree.
• Substitution of Experience: Full-time relevant professional experience, including law enforcement experience, may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Necessary Special Qualifications (Applicants 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.
• Agree to release all records involving criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Supply a fingerprint sample for a fingerprint-based criminal history records check by the TBI.
• Have no conviction for a felony or any domestic assault convictions, nor have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the U.S. armed forces.
• Pass a physical examination consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related to essential job functions.
• Pass a psychological evaluation consistent with the ADA and related to essential job functions.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for illegal drug use.
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment.
• Upon appointment, successfully complete all prescribed instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy and any required online training.

Responsibilities

As a Probation and Parole Officer 1, your duties will include:

• Record Keeping and Reporting: Preparing and maintaining offender records and reports, identifying criminal activities and background information for parole board requests, and preparing narrative investigation reports and monthly caseload activity reports.
• Offender Monitoring: Ensuring offenders comply with release requirements set by policy and procedures.
• Interviews and Evaluations: Regularly interviewing probationers and parolees to assess progress on goals, compliance with probation contracts and rehabilitation plans, and conducting database searches for relevant offender information.
• Investigations and Court Testimony: Conducting pre-hearing and pre-release investigations, testifying in court and/or parole hearings regarding offender backgrounds and recommended sentences/conditions, and performing searches of offender residences, vehicles, and persons as policy requires.
• Liaison Activities: Acting as a liaison with judges, court personnel, law enforcement, and other agencies involved in the probation/parole program.
• Interpersonal Skills: Interacting positively with colleagues and offenders to maintain a respectful and harmonious working environment.
• Addressing Non-Compliance: Addressing offender non-compliance with appropriate Graduated Sanctions, including writing warrants and reports for Courts or the Board.
• Field Supervision: Supervising probationers on community-based sentences (e.g., electronic home detention), conducting curfew checks, home/work/school visits, and administering drug and alcohol tests.
• Interstate Compact: Responding to correspondence from other states regarding offender supervision.
• Risk and Needs Assessment: Conducting validated risk and needs assessments using motivational and interview techniques to determine re-offense risk and identify criminogenic factors.
• Complaint Resolution: Handling offender complaints and grievances professionally and according to policy.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – 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
• Instructing
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring

Abilities:

• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity

Tools & Equipment Used

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