A Dual Role

Community corrections professionals, whether at the federal or state/local level, play a dual role, part law enforcement and part social work. Officers monitor the behavior and activities of persons under supervision to make sure they don't commit further crime. They also refer these individuals to treatment, education, employment, and other services that can help them achieve a crime-free life. Different community corrections agencies in different jurisdictions may emphasize one role or the other, but they all share the same basic mission: to promote public safety by motivating persons under supervision to stay on the right side of the law.

Branch of Government

Executive branch or judicial branch? At the federal level, probation is under the judicial branch. Officers work in several hundred offices located in the 94 federal judicial districts nationwide. The officers serve the courts. They provide judges with information they need to make decisions and protect the community by enforcing court orders. Therefore, federal probation, with its close relationship to the courts and an emphasis on providing treatment to offenders and motivating them to change, is separate from executive branch entities that focus on apprehending and prosecuting offenders. At the state and local levels, probation often is a function of the executive branch. Its placement varies jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Sometimes it's a component of the department of corrections, along with prisons. Or, it may operate as an independent agency.

Part of the Justice Process

Community corrections at every level of government is part of a process: the justice process. This is a process that begins with an arrest and continues in court. It may include a prison term followed by release to the community on supervision. The officers who provide community supervision are key players in the justice process, but they don't work alone. They collaborate with or support the work of others, such as attorneys, judges, police, and prison officials.

Officer Training

Like their colleagues in state/local levels of government, federal probation officers learn about their duties and how to carry them out through on-the-job training in their districts. However, federal probation officers also receive national training. Officers receive training on their core responsibilities and on firearms and safety at a national new officer training program held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston, South Carolina. They also benefit from training offered by the Federal Judicial Center, which develops education and training programs for all federal court employees. The Center offers seminars and workshops, in-person and on-line conferences, satellite TV broadcasts, and leadership and new supervisor programs geared especially for officers.

Specialized Caseloads

At both the federal and state/local levels, certain categories of crime and criminals have generated a need for specialized caseloads. Substance abusers, the mentally ill, and gang members are among the special groups that present unique challenges to the officers who are charged with supervising them. Officers who are assigned specialized caseloads may handle smaller caseloads, provide more intensive monitoring, and receive special training to manage the needs of these individuals and any threat they pose to the public.

Permission to Carry Firearms

Federal probation officers are authorized by law to carry firearms. Each individual district court decides whether its officers will be armed or not. If a district permits carrying firearms, it's each officer's choice whether or do so or not. Therefore, some federal probation officers do carry firearms, and some do not. For some officers at the state/local level, carrying firearms is optional; for others, it's mandatory; and for still others, it's not allowed. In some state/local agencies, only officers in specific positions–such as officers who deal with violent offenders--are permitted to carry firearms.

Community Partners

Officers–no matter at which level of government they work-- must know their communities and operate effectively within them. An important part of their work is directing persons under their supervision to services to help them. Officers build partnerships with community resources that provide these services, which include substance abuse and mental health treatment, medical care, education and training, and employment assistance.