
Sometimes, finding someone’s parole officer is necessary to ensure that the person is adhering to the terms of their probation, or to report a probation violation. In some cases, probation violations can be serious crimes, and a parole officer will need to be notified as soon as possible.
Our article helps you understand more about the role of parole officers during someone’s probation and how to accurately find someone’s parole officer.
What Is the Role of a Parole Officer?
A parole officer, also sometimes called a probation officer, is a person who is designated to investigate, report, and supervise someone’s probation.
In general, convicted offenders of a crime may be sentenced to probation without jail time, or they may be released from jail onto a probation term, depending on the terms of their conviction. Their assigned parole officer will require that they check in on a regular basis and monitor their behavior, helping the offender to stay on track with their probation terms.
The exact duties of a parole officer vary based on the state and the specific population of convicted offenders a parole officer works with. For example, some parole officers work exclusively with sex offenders or individuals on house arrest.
In general, parole officers are employed directly by the jurisdiction or county where a convicted offender has served a jail sentence or been otherwise handed a sentence. In some cases, parole officers may be a part of a private company that is contracted by city-level or state-level government, though this is not as common.
Reasons to Find Someone’s Parole Officer
There are several important reasons why you might want to find someone’s parole officer. We list the most common reasons for searching for someone’s parole officer below.
- You want to report something good about someone who is on probation
- You need to report a concern about someone on probation
- Someone you know on probation is missing their appointments with their parole officer, and you need to speak with the parole officer
- You need to verify someone’s information who may be on parole
Typically, parole officers will speak to you about your concerns and even receive compliments about a person they are monitoring who is on probation.
However, you should not expect the parole officer to give you extensive details about a person’s crimes and their conviction. You also should not call them constantly in order to try and check on a person who is on probation.
Sharing details about a person’s conviction with you can be considered a violation of privacy laws in many areas. Constantly calling to speak with a parole officer could be considered harassment if you are doing it without any cause other than curiosity.
Steps to Find Someone’s Parole Officer
The following steps can help you find someone’s parole officer and speak to them about any pressing information regarding a person who is currently on probation.
Identify the Person on Probation
Before you can start researching someone’s parole officer, it is important to fully identify the person on probation. This can include finding their first and last name, the county where they were arrested, and the area where they may have served a jail sentence.
You can also remember any identifying details about the person if you had brief contact with them and need to report their actions. These details can help you find them when reviewing pictures.
The best places to confirm a person’s identity are county jail websites, websites that show recently released offenders in your area, and the national sex offender database. You can also look them up on a people search website. Any of these websites can help you confirm the identity and location of the offender you are calling a parole officer about.
Find the Correct Probation Department
Parole officers are almost always connected to the county court or judicial system in the jurisdiction where a person was arrested and sentenced. This means that you will need to find the correct probation department for that county or state.
Many state government websites will provide a search tool for you to access county court and probation information. You can find these websites by typing your state, or the state that you suspect an offender was convicted in, and the words “probation department” or something similar.
Once you locate the correct website, you can find the applicable county probation department, and then you can navigate to the correct parole officer.
Contact the Parole or Probation Officer
After you have discovered the parole officer or county probation department you need, you can look for details on how to contact the parole officer in charge of the offender you want to discuss. Sometimes, you may need to call the probation department and speak with a staff member to receive the correct contact information for the person you are trying to contact.
In general, you should be able to speak to a parole officer about your concerns or ask questions over the phone; you may need to set up an appointment to do so.
Will I Get in Trouble for Contacting Someone’s Parole Officer?
You will not get in trouble for contacting someone’s parole officer. Contacting someone’s parole officer is usually encouraged if you have encountered them violating the terms of their parole.
If your loved one is the person you are concerned about, contacting their parole officer can be a good way to help them stay on track with the terms of their probation. From there, they can avoid repeated jail sentences.
The only times you might get in trouble for contacting someone’s parole officer is if you do it repeatedly or you are trying to harass them. You might also get in trouble if you are attempting to gather information about an offender that cannot be legally released to you and won’t take no for an answer.
How Do I Check if Someone Is on Probation?
You can check if someone is on probation by using federal or county-level courts, whichever is applicable to the offender you are researching. In general, county court websites and county jail websites will tell you which offender has been released on probation, as will federal websites.
If you are having trouble finding the information you need on these websites, you might need to contact the applicable county probation office. Then, you can ask them for details on whether or not someone is currently on probation.
Can I File a Restraining Order Against Someone on Probation?
You can file a restraining order against anyone who is threatening you, stalking you, or attempting to cause you mental or physical harm. Every state has laws for restraining orders, and you will need to consult the specific laws for your state and exact county to understand how to obtain this kind of protective order.
Even if someone is currently on probation, they can have a restraining order filed against them. If receiving a restraining order against them is a violation of the person’s probation, they may end up serving another sentence in jail. However, this does depend on the exact terms of their probation and both state and federal laws.
How Can I Help a Loved One Who Is on Probation?
Helping a loved one who is on probation can seem overwhelming, especially as you likely want the best for that person and to ensure they complete the terms of their probation without issue. The following tips can help you support your loved one while they are on probation.
- Understand the rules and terms of your loved one’s probation, including any curfews
- Encourage your loved one to attend all of their parole meetings, recovery meetings, and other court-ordered obligations
- Help your loved one receive professional counseling and rehabilitation services when needed
- Work to keep your loved one away from people who could negatively influence their behavior, if possible
- Focus on the things you can do with your loved one and show them the peace and calm they need to stay on track with the terms of their probation
- Offer to listen if your loved one needs to speak about their concerns with their probation or with the other things they have experienced
Additionally, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional if you need counseling for your own needs. You can also contact your loved one’s parole officer with your questions if you have concerns about their probation terms.
Finding Vital Parole Officer Information
Contacting someone’s parole officer can seem intimidating at first, but making a phone call to a parole officer about someone on probation can often be incredibly important. If someone has violated their probation or if a person on probation deserves a compliment, a parole officer needs to know this information.
In most states, you will easily be able to find the vital parole officer information you need with the help of the search tips in our article.