Probation/Parole Intern

Job Description

TDOC 2026 Probation/Parole Internship

Department: Correction

Division: Community Supervision

Location: Nashville, TN

Salary: $20/hr

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who We Are

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is a multi-faceted agency with a responsibility to serve the public by operating safe and secure prisons and providing effective community supervision. We take our mission seriously and every employee will work extremely hard to ensure we never compromise public safety.

How You Make a Difference

Probation and Parole Interns will be exposed to and expected to learn concepts related to the management of offenders granted probation or parole. Interns will be expected to have a basic understanding of the risk and needs assessment instrument and development of offender case plans. They will learn implementation of evidence based practices in treatment and programming. Interns shall develop interpersonal skills necessary to interact with Court Officials, Community Partners, and Offenders.

Job Overview

Probation and parole are privileges which allow offenders to avoid prison or to be released from prison after serving only a portion of their sentences. The goals of probation and parole are to rehabilitate offenders and guide them back into society while minimizing the likelihood that they will reoffend. TDOC utilizes a validated risk and needs assessment instrument for determination of an offender’s risk to reoffend and the identification of treatment and program options that reduce that risk. TDOC significantly enhances public safety through a comprehensive case management plan based upon the risk and needs assessment.

Key Responsibilities

As a Probation and Parole Intern, you will:

• Learn how to prepare and maintain offenders’ records and reports.
• Be able to identify criminal activities and background information in reports.
• Prepare narrative reports of the investigation process.
• Learn to utilize offender information in order to determine proper steps for treatment.
• Observe staff members as they conduct probationer and parolee interviews.
• Learn to evaluate the offender’s progress in accomplishing goals, maintaining compliance with conditions of probation or parole, and compliance with rehabilitation plans.
• Be taught drug and alcohol testing policy and procedures.
• Learn to request warrants for non-compliance by offenders.
• Witness relationships between judges, court personnel, law enforcement, and treatment agencies concerned with the probation parole program.
• Integrate knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development as you observe and participate in the day-to-day operations of the Probation and Parole Office.

Minimum Qualifications

• Working toward obtaining a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD with majors related to social science, behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, social work or related field.
• Must be classified/enrolled as a Junior or greater.
• The internship must be for academic credit.
• Applicant must submit to and pass: Background Investigation and Pre-employment Drug Screen.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State’s policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.