Probation officer

Career Overview

Probation officers are responsible for supervising and supporting adult clients under court-ordered community supervision. In British Columbia, there are around 18,000 Community Corrections clients being supervised by probation officers each day. These individuals have either been ordered to await trial in the community or serve a community sentence, such as a probation order, a conditional sentence order, or a recognizance order.

Probation officers have a range of complex duties that include assessing risk and developing case management strategies based on the Risk Needs Responsivity principle. They also provide individual and group interventions that target the factors most linked to criminal recidivism for sentenced clients. Probation officers monitor compliance with court-ordered conditions, prepare court reports, testify in criminal trials, liaise with justice and community partners, and refer clients to appropriate community-based resources.

As members of the Community Corrections Division of BC Corrections probation officers work in alignment with three main goals: support behavior changes through cognitive-behavioral interventions, provide innovative case management for clients, and strengthen communities through partnerships.

Career Prospects

There are two classifications of probation officer:

• Probation officer 24 supervises all sentenced clients as well as clients on bail.
• Probation officer 15 supervises low risk sentenced clients and clients on bail. This role is not present in all community corrections offices.

Probation officers work in 55 community corrections offices throughout BC.  Career opportunities are available across the province, with a particular demand in the northern interior region.

For more information on the probation officer role, including a comprehensive list of duties, qualifications, and steps to becoming a probation officer please visit the BC Public Service probation officer careers page.

Job opportunities are posted on the BC Public Service Website.  Job applicants are required to create an account to view and apply to current positions.

For information about parole officers, visit the Correctional Service of Canada website.