I want to work in Probation or Prison Services

Find out how you can start a career in probation or prison services. Here we list potential job roles and some of the leading companies in that sector.

Job roles

Probation Officer

Probation Officers work with offenders and aim to reduce rates of re-offending and protect the public. The National Probation Service (NPS) works with high-risk offenders and the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) work with medium to low-risk offenders.
Job profile of a Probation Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Probation Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
HM Prison and Probation Service website on training to become a Probation Officer

Prison Officer

Prison Officers are responsible for maintaining security in prisons and supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners.
Job profile of a Prison Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Prison Officer from the TARGET Jobs website
HM Prison and Probation Service website on becoming a Prison Officer

Prison Governor

Prison Governors are responsible for managing prisons. There are various levels and types of management roles in prisons, so not just one governor.
Job profile of a Prison Governor from the National Careers Service website

Youth Offending Team Officer

Working with young offenders with the aim of reducing rates of re-offending and supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes.
Job profile of a Youth Offending Team Officer from the National Careers Service website

Forensic/Criminal Psychologist

Forensic Psychologists assess and treat prisoners and offenders. They also get involved with profiling, research and giving evidence in court.
Job profile for a Forensic Psychologist from the Prospects website
Job profile for a Forensic Psychologist from the Health Careers website
Information on forensic psychology from the British Psychological Society
Information on forensic psychologist roles with the HM Prison and Probation Service

Other roles

There are a variety of other roles in prisons for example healthcare, operational support and chaplaincy.
Information on the different roles in prisons from the HM Prison and Probation Service website

Companies

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