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Public Administration & LegalISCO 2635

Probation officer

A probation officer is a person who supervises offenders after release or those sentenced to penalties that do not require imprisonment.

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Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

identify available services

perform risk analysis

maintain relationship with suppliers

enable access to services

ensure sentence execution

About probation officer

The officer carries out risk analysis, assesses offenders' propensity for risky behaviour, and prepares reports containing advice on an offender's sentence and an analysis of the likelihood of reoffending. Those reports go to a court and help it decide how to proceed with the offender.

The officer ensures the sentence is carried out, including community service where that applies, and at the same time assists offenders through rehabilitation and reintegration, acting as an individual mentor and reinforcing positive behaviour. In this work the officer applies knowledge of human behaviour, meeting offenders and checking that they meet the obligations imposed on them.

The officer also gives practical help and identifies the services available, from housing and addiction treatment to employment and benefits, which help the person return to life in the community. Documentation is prepared in accordance with legal requirements. The training and appointment of probation officers are set by each country's law.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (11)

identify available servicesidentify available servicesIdentify the different services available for an offender during probation in order to help in the rehabilitation and re-integration process, as well as advising the offenders as to how they can ident...perform risk analysisperform risk analysisIdentify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation's functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.maintain relationship with suppliersmaintain relationship with suppliersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.enable access to servicesenable access to servicesEnable access to the different services which may be available to people with precarious legal status such as immigrants and offenders on probation in order to secure their inclusion in a facility or ...ensure sentence executionensure sentence executionEnsure, by contacting the parties involved and monitoring and handling progress and follow-up documentation, that legal sentences are followed as they were issued, such as ensuring that fines are paid...develop documentation in accordance with legal requirementsdevelop documentation in accordance with legal requirementsCreate professionally written content describing products, applications, components, functions or services in compliance with legal requirements and internal or external standards.advise on legal decisionsadvise on legal decisionsAdvise judges, or other officials in legal decision-making positions, on which decision would be right, compliant with the law and with moral considerations, or most advantageous for the adviser's cli...assess offenders' risk behaviourassess offenders' risk behaviourAssess and monitor the behaviour of offenders to gauge whether they pose any further risk to society, and what their chances for positive rehabilitation are, by assessing the environment they're in, t...apply knowledge of human behaviourapply knowledge of human behaviourPractice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.mentor individualsmentor individualsMentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific n...reinforce positive behaviourreinforce positive behaviourReinforce positive behaviour in people during rehabilitation and counseling activities, to ensure that the person takes the necessary actions for positive results in a positive manner, so that they re...
Optional (18) — show
criminologycriminologyThe study of criminal behaviour, such as its causes and nature, its consequences, and control and prevention methods.forensic psychiatryforensic psychiatryThe psychiatry methods applied, the organsation and duties in both criminal and civil frameworks of justice.law enforcementlaw enforcementThe different organisations involved in law enforcement, as well as the laws and regulations in law enforcement procedures.psychological counselling methodspsychological counselling methodsThe various psychological counselling, training and coaching methods for persons of all ages, groups and organizations considering medical aspects.criminal lawcriminal lawThe legal rules, constitutions and regulations applicable for the punishment of offenders.legal researchlegal researchThe methods and procedures of research in legal matters, such as the regulations, and different approaches to analyses and source gathering, and the knowledge on how to adapt the research methodology ...court procedurescourt proceduresThe regulations which are in place during the investigation of a court case and during a court hearing, and of how these events occur.provide social counsellingprovide social counsellingAssist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.compile legal documentscompile legal documentsCompile and collect legal documents from a specific case in order to aid an investigation or for a court hearing, in a manner compliant with legal regulations and ensuring records are properly maintai...analyse legal evidenceanalyse legal evidenceAnalyse evidence, such as evidence in criminal cases, legal documentation regarding a case, or other documentation that can be regarded as evidence, in order to obtain a clear image of the case and re...present evidencepresent evidencePresent evidence in a criminal or civil case to others, in a convincing and appropriate manner, in order to reach the right or most beneficial solution.oversee rehabilitation processoversee rehabilitation processOversee the rehabilitation process of offenders during their stay in a correctional facility, to ensure that they follow the instructions, show good behaviour, and work towards full re-integration whe...provide testimony in court hearingsprovide testimony in court hearingsProvide testimony in court hearings regarding a variety of social matters and other events.interview peopleinterview peopleInterview people in a range of different circumstances.document evidencedocument evidenceDocument all evidence found on a crime scene, during an investigation, or when presented in a hearing, in a manner compliant with regulations, to ensure that no piece of evidence is left out of the ca...advise on conflict managementadvise on conflict managementAdvise private or public organisations on monitoring possible conflict risk and development, and on conflict resolution methods specific to the identified conflicts.identify security threatsidentify security threatsIdentify security threats during investigations, inspections, or patrols, and perform the necessary actions to minimise or neutralise the threat.write situation reportswrite situation reportsWrite reports according to specifications and regulations of an organisation on the situation which needs to be reported on, such as the status of an investigation, of intelligence gathering, or of mi...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a probation officer do?

Probation officers supervise offenders after their release, or who were sentenced to penalties outside of incarceration. They write reports providing advice on the offender's sentence and analysis concerning possibilities of reoffense. They aid the offenders during the rehabilitation and reintegration process and ensure the offenders carry out their community service sentence when necessary.

What skills does a probation officer need?

A probation officer needs 11 essential skills, including identify available services, perform risk analysis, maintain relationship with suppliers, enable access to services, ensure sentence execution.

Will AI replace probation officer jobs?

The AI disruption score for probation officer is 24/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: develop documentation in accordance with legal requirements, legal research, write situation reports. Most resilient: mentor individuals, psychological counselling methods, provide testimony in court hearings.

Quick Facts

SectorPublic Administration & Legal
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills11

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