Parole officers and supervisors must meet specified qualifications, and certain people are barred from serving in those roles.
Sec. 508.113. PAROLE OFFICERS, SUPERVISORS: QUALIFICATIONS. (a) This subsection and Subsection (b) apply only to a person employed as a parole officer or supervisor on or before September 1, 1990. A person may not be employed as a parole officer or supervisor, or be responsible for investigating or supervising a releasee, unless the person has: (1) four years of successfully completed education in an accredited college or university; (2) two years of full-time paid employment in responsible correctional work with adults or juveniles or in a related field; and (3) any other qualifications that may be specified by the director. (b) Additional experience in a category described by Subsection (a)(2) may be substituted year for year for the required college education, with a maximum substitution of two years. (c) The director shall establish qualifications for parole officers and supervisors that are the same as qualifications for community supervision and corrections department officers imposed by Section 76.005. A person may not begin employment as a parole officer or supervisor after September 1, 1990, unless the person meets the qualifications established by the director. (d) A person who is serving as a peace officer or as a prosecuting attorney may not act as a parole officer or be responsible for supervising a releasee. (e) The division may establish a waiver procedure for when the director is unable to appoint persons meeting the qualifications established under Subsection (c). Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1022 (S.B. 2405), Sec. 80, eff. September 1, 2025.