Skilled professionals that hold parole officer jobs in New Jersey are responsible for supervising thousands of law offenders that get released into the state’s parole system. The New Jersey State Parole Board’s 2011 Annual Report shows that board serviced 4,272 new parolees during that year which brought the total number of parolees to 15,685. The Division of Parole is among the biggest police agencies in the state, bolstered by a staff of 363 parole officers.
Not only do parole officers work for the Parole Board, but they also work to support local and state investigations. In some cases, parole officers are requested to collaborate with other law enforcement special teams such as the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the US Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. There are eighteen units within the Division of Parole. Ten of these units are designated as District Parole Offices. The remaining units highlight specialized focuses such as:
- Electronic Monitoring Unit
- Office of Interstate Services
- Sex Offender Management Unit
- Investigative Management Office
- Special Operations Unit
- Fugitive Unit
- Training Unit
Parole Officer Recruit Eligibility
According to the New Jersey State Parole Board, all potential parole officers must comply with four major requirements to be considered for employment:
- must be at least eighteen years old
- must be able to prove United States citizenship
- must pass civil service examination by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission
- must complete a bachelor degree program from an accredited college/university
Mandatory Training for Parole Officers
Satisfying all pre-employment qualifications does not immediately secure job placement with the New Jersey State Parole Board. Once hired, new recruits must learn how to become a parole officer through challenging training courses. For example, parole officers must participate in a twenty-four week Police Training Commission (PTC) certified academy course before receiving a district office assignment. The PTC course includes instruction in:
- arrest procedures
- firearms training
- investigation techniques
- unarmed defense tactics
- parolee supervision guidelines
Trainees that earn academy certification are officially qualified to practice as a parole officer throughout the state. However, they are subject to a one-year probationary period. During this time, novice parole officers work closely with senior parole officers to receive continual in-service training, including:
- becoming acquainted with housing, education and employment programs for parolees
- researching substance abuse and mental illness treatment options for parolees
- devising supervisory plans for future parolees
- writing reports for case histories
- interviewing new parolees
- explaining conditions of parole to new parolees
- learning how to identify and dispel dangerous situations
- arresting parole violators
- facilitating the collection of court-imposed fees
Occupational Outlook for Parole Officers
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development found 2,700 residents with careers as parole officers in 2010. By 2020, the state predicts that approximately 2,950 parole officers will be actively employed here. The addition of 250 workers within this occupation over a ten-year span indicates an employment growth change of 8.4% The top three industries of employment for parole officers in 2010 were the state government, the local government, and social assistance.
Regional Employment of Parole Officers
Employment opportunities for parole officers can often dependent on geographic location. Although, in general, metropolitan areas of the state often require large workforces in order to accommodate high population concentrations. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the majority of parole officers work in the New York-White Plains-Wayne (NY-NJ) region of the state. Employment figures according to region are as follows:
- New York-White Plains-Wayne (NY-NJ): 2,120
- Newark-Union (NJ-PA): 630
- Edison-New Brunswick (NJ): 550
- Camden (NJ): 390
- Wilmington (DE-MD-NJ): 300
- Allentown-Bethlehem (PA-NJ): 200