Columbus Region - Parole Officer Continuous Posting 2026

Columbus Region - Parole Officer Continuous Posting 2026

Guided by the agency's mission "To reduce recidivism among those we touch," the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is looking for a dedicated security minded professional to assume the responsibilities of a Parole Officer in the Columbus Region to include counties: Athens, Belmont, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Guernsey, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Union, Vinton, and Washington. This is a continuous posting for 60 days. Updates/changes to your application submission can be made while the posting is open by logging into your profile and editing the application. After the posting closes, no changes can be made.

Job duties include: overseeing offenders, interviewing and observing offenders at residence/work site or other community locations, utilizing evidence-based supervision practices to facilitate behavioral change in offenders, obtaining certification in Ohio Risk Assessment System, completing offender risk assessments as directed, interviewing offenders and reviewing documents, records, and reports to develop case plans in conjunction with offenders to address identified risk factors, maintaining and reviewing case plans with offenders throughout supervision period to gauge progress of established goals, providing individual and group advice by listening, speaking and providing written instructions to offenders, conducting visual and auditory surveillance which includes operating electronic monitor equipment as needed, performing drug testing by collecting and transporting specimens or using drug kit procedures when necessary and maintaining a written chain of evidence from sample collection through testing and hearing process, conducting DNA testing as prescribed by statute, finding employment and vocational opportunities for offenders by making referrals to community service agencies, maintaining contact with offender families, friends, employers and others by interviewing, observing behaviors and reviewing written documents and records, developing sound caseload management involving analysis of caseload and making necessary community referrals in order to make adjustments in offender activity, overseeing caseload which requires special training to properly supervise substance abusers, drug offenders, sex offenders, special releasee and special needs offenders as needed, conducting and completing placement, arrest and violation investigations by interviewing individuals, reading and understanding technical information including medical, psychological, law enforcement and legal documents, completing, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating appropriate reports of investigations making correctional recommendations to be used in decisions of judges, parole administrators or parole board members in sentencing and revocation procedures, updating and using records through use of field officer tools (FOT) to include recording offender case activity and officer activity, traveling to offender homes, places of employment, jails and courts etc. by operating personal or state vehicle, preparing information and initiating packets for Parole Board Hearings, screening inmates to determine eligibility and making recommendations for transfer into transitional control program, responding in writing to inmate inquiries (i.e. kites), conducting and completing clemency and other investigations by interviewing individuals, reading and understanding technical information including medical, psychological, law enforcement and legal documents, completing, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating appropriate reports of investigations to be used in decisions and/or recommendations of parole board members, facilitating special hearings (i.e. clemency, full board) when needed, completing, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, and delivering written arrest, hold and release orders, securing and delivering search warrants and subpoenas to jails and law enforcement, correctional and court agencies, pursuing declared violators-at-large, arresting violators and conducting search and seizure of contraband which involves walking, running, climbing, crawling, bending, stooping, lifting or using force such as applying unarmed self-defense techniques or using restraining devices like handcuffs, belly chains or leg irons and OC spray/pepper gas as needed, developing and presenting cases at revocation hearings, collecting evidence, organizing written documents, records and reports, examining and cross examining witnesses, testifying as required, operating personal or state vehicle to transport witnesses or violators or other releases, providing work direction and trains staff as necessary through conducting orientation of new staff, on-the-job training and in-service training, completing, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, lesson plans and documents training activities, overseeing outpost office which consists of two to three less experienced staff as required, completing, by operating personal computer, writing or dictating, background investigations on prospective employees, developing sound working relations with community agencies, citizen groups and criminal justice agencies to secure community resources for benefit of clients, writing or dictating speeches and presentations for authorized speaking engagements, participating on community councils and committees, functioning on an inter-agency level as coordinator with halfway houses and prevention programs, acting as liaison with state hospitals to accomplish appropriate level of services for clients, presenting pre-release programs at penal institutions from written presentation guide or lesson plan, traveling to and participating in staff meetings, conferences and training session, and must conduct themselves professionally, and in a law-abiding manner, at all times and in accordance with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Standards of Employee Conduct.

Why work for the State of Ohio? At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes: medical coverage, free dental, vision and basic life insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period, paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year, childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave, education and development opportunities (employee development funds, public service loan forgiveness, and more), public retirement systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & optional deferred compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation) *Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications: associate's degree from accredited educational institution; 2 yrs. exp. in criminal justice, corrections, law enforcement, social service or related field; must have no legal prohibition against carrying firearms; valid driver's license. -Or bachelor's degree, from accredited educational institution; must have no legal prohibition against carrying firearms; valid driver's license. -Or equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above. Note: applicants for positions in Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction must also successfully pass parole officer assessment or have successfully completed assessment within past 12 mos.; or applicants must be current employees with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction who have previously been certified in position of parole officer. Probationary period is 365 days. Probationary parole officers may not transfer to vacancy through canvass process but may be reassigned by management to another vacancy within same headquarter county. Job skills: criminology/criminal justice.