Placement Description  

Interns will work under the direction of Probation/Parole Officers, and assist with the supervision of offenders  placed on probation/parole.

Intern or Field Placement
Responsibilities/Opportunities

• Court Observations 
• Work with offenders and their families 
• Home visits 
• Employment contacts 
• Observe interviews 
• Assist with reports and paperwork

Contact Information

• Contact Person: Ms. Jenness White 
• Address: 500 Commerce Road P.O. Box 238 Staunton, VA 24402-0238 
• Telephone: 540/332-7780, Extension 113 
• Fax: 540/332-7784 
• E-Mail: Jenness.White@vadoc.virginia.gov 

Read about students’ experiences at this site below:

Fall 2021 - Maddie Eger

Harrisonburg Probation and Parole seeks to provide a healing environment for people who have recently been  released from incarceration or were recently charged with a crime. These individuals, called supervisees, are paired with an officer who will help connect them with resources within the Harrisonburg community. The supervisees  assigned to an officer will also perform regular check-ins and drug screens to ensure that they are maintaining  their sobriety and that there are no additional problems that have arisen that may hinder or threaten the  supervisee’s progress. Probation officers also communicate with the court and community organizations (such as  the Community Services Board) about the well-being of the supervisee, and if any additional supports would possibly be needed and can be hence implemented for that individual.

In my time at Probation and Parole, I feel that I got a very well-rounded experience. I performed in person and  phone check-ins with supervisees, performed drug screens, went on home visits, updated case notes, and got to  visit the Harrisonburg Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP), which is where certain supervisees can  spend the first months of their probation on work release in a facility that is similar to a jail, in that it has a similar structure. In my time, I got to experience all of the parts of the job that a probation officer is expected to  do, and I am grateful that I got the wonderful opportunity that I did.

My impression of this field placement was overwhelmingly positive. Everyone was kind and accepting and took the  time needed to make sure that I understood what they were doing or what was being asked of me. One advantage  was that officers were very willing to include me in what they were doing and allow me to experience a  multitude of things in a very short time. This was also thanks to the supervisees who were willing to let me sit in  on initial check-ins to observe until I was ready to perform them on my own. The experience that I liked the most  was the home visits. This was an opportunity to see supervisees in an environment that they cultivated and made  their own. It was a good experience to see what they value and what was most important to them during these  visits as opposed to the more stale environment when doing an office check-in. I cannot think of one thing that I  particularly disliked. Though some things I enjoyed doing less, such as urine screens, I still recognize that it is part of the job and would not say it lessened my experience there.

I learned a lot about the inner workings of our legal system while at Probation and Parole. Before, I had a pretty  general idea of what a probation officer did and how they interacted with supervisees. However, I got to see first- hand the work that is put in to try and ensure that supervisees successfully complete their probation and have the  supports needed to do so. I always knew that I wanted to work with people who are either incarcerated or recently released from jail, and this field placement site has helped reassure me that this is the right path for me. While at  Probation and Parole, I was exposed to the innerworkings of the job and could see myself doing this job or  something similar in the future. I do like the more helping aspect of the job and not the violating and returning  people to court part, but I can also see why that would be necessary. I hope in the future to get my Master’s in  Clinical Mental Health Counseling and to work with previously incarcerated individuals to help them reintegrate into society and ensure they have the support necessary to do so. Working either in the probation office as a mental health advisor or in tandem with probation at a separate office is what is most attractive to me.

The psychology major at JMU provided me with a foundation upon which to build my experiences. The different  approaches to therapy allowed me to take different approaches when talking to each supervisee based on how we  were interacting. For example, when someone was speaking more in a way that seemed like they were looking for  advice, I would use more reflection (as used by Carl Rogers in Person-Centered therapy) to see if I could get them  to come to a conclusion that they saw fit before advising them on the best course of action for court purposes. I  also think that the psychology major focuses on different aspects that could be causing people to act a certain way  (e.g., personality traits, social upbringing), which then led me to ask more questions to see if I could decipher why  certain individuals were in the situation they were in or behaving the way they were.

My contribution project included the creation of Spanish scripts in order to provide more comfort to both the  supervisee and the officer when in certain situations that, for the most part, stayed consistent (scheduling  appointments and urine screens). I noticed that these were situations where the verbiage tended to stay the same  but the Spanish speaking supervisees still struggled with what was being asked of them. Being the only Spanish  speaker in the office, I was used to translate for many situations; however, I will not be there forever and wanted  to provide a basis for officers in the future to be able to comfortably communicate, at least in these situations.  Thus far, the scripts have been implemented, but the usage is slow going as there are only a few individuals who  speak only Spanish, and I was the person who saw the ones who had come in for their check-ins and scheduled  their next appointments. However, I feel that these scripts will be useful in the future, and if anything, will provide  a backup and make the officer feel more comfortable knowing that they will be there to be relied on if they are  needed.

Overall, I feel that this site will provide a good basis for professional development for anyone who is considering  working with someone who has previously been incarcerated. There are many moving parts to the legal system,  and this allows insight into the innerworkings. Communication skills are also developed in two different capacities:  with coworkers and with the supervisees. Communication is essential no matter what line of work one chooses to  persue, and this placement offers the opportunity to further develop these skills. I would also like to add that the  officers and supervisors at Probation and Parole are very understanding of limits and making sure that one is  comfortable before entering a situation. I was never put in a situation that I did not feel that I could handle and  knew that if I were to say that I had certain hesitations, I could bring them up with no repercussions. Any  experience is what you make of it, but Probation and Parole makes it easy for the experience to be fulfilling.

Spring 2020– Riley Hawes

District 12 Probation and Parole located in Staunton, Virginia has the following mission statement: “enhance the  quality of life in the Commonwealth by improving public safety”. The staff does their best to follow this mission  statement and this is done by “providing supervision and control, effective programs and re-entry services in safe  environments which foster positive change and growth consistent with researched based-evidence”. District 12 has  upheld this personal vision of theirs to “make good things happen to other people” by ensuring the reintegrating of sentenced men and women effectively. They truly succeed in this because they have managed to maintain the  lowest recidivism rate in the country for the third year in a row at 23.4%.

While at my time interning with District 12, I was able to do a wide variety of tasks that my site was very trusting  with. For the beginning part of my internship, I was under the supervision of a senior probation officer who  specialized in supervision of the sex offender cases. I spent a lot of time with her and had the opportunity to  observe personal office contacts with offenders of hers, go on home visits to the offender’s home, attend court  hearings and observe sentencings, observe a home plan investigation and arrests, administer drug screens to  offenders, help with orientation duties of new offenders, and schedule appointments to meet with offenders. I also  got to attend a training session with the district mental health clinician and visit the Middle River Regional Jail. Not  only did I spend time with the sex offender probation officer, but I got to shadow other general probation officers,  learn a lot from the gang member probation officer, and my favorite was shadowing the mental health probation  officer and district mental health clinician.

My main duties were assisting with orientation duties, which included collecting fingerprints, administering drug  screens, and putting together packets of resources for the incoming offenders. I also was tasked with something  that was fairly new to the site which was voice verification screening for the offenders who were very low level  supervision and had been approved by a supervisor to be assigned an “online probation officer”; the offenders  could conduct monthly check-ins through an app they download. This was exciting in that I was one of the few who knew the process and I was able to schedule my own appointments and meet with the offenders to conduct the  initial voice screening interview and tell them about the conditions. My supervisor was very trusting in my  capabilities and was always there if I had any questions.

Working with District 12 was such an amazing experience and provides you with so many opportunities to develop  and strengthen new skills. Everyone at the site was willing to include me in any task they were doing so I could  learn a variety of the jobs to do there. After the first or second time they demonstrated a task for me, they would  trust me to try it for myself, if I had the proper training. I was never once bored there and if I ever felt I needed to be challenged more or I desired to see something specific, all I had to do was ask and they would accommodate my wants and needs as an intern. I loved that every day there was different and within a minute something could change and you would have to be prepared for unexpected surprises. There is so much  room for growth at this site and your time there I what you make of it. The staff and employees just want to see  you succeed and are willing to help in any way they can to educate you. I felt so comfortable in the environment at District 12 and it is because they treat you respectfully and they care about your opinions even as an intern who  has less experience than them. This field placement site pushes you out of your comfort zone in more ways than  one, but it is more rewarding than any other experience I have ever had.

For my contribution project I wanted to help with something I noticed within my first week at District 12. It  involved creating a resource manual with information about employers within the Staunton area that were willing  to hire offenders. Many offenders find it difficult to obtain employment because so many places say they will not  hire those with known convictions. I think it is important and beneficial for offenders to have a stable income from  employment, not only because it is part of many of their term and conditions of probation, but also because I think it will help reduce recidivism rates in that it will help them stay away from engaging in criminal behavior and  associating with risky individuals. Once I gathered the information from employers about requirements for  application, I put together the resource manual and gave it to my supervisor. This manual may be used to give to  offenders during orientation or given to them by their probation officer, so they can start early in trying to find  available jobs.

One of the most impactful things I learned at my time here is developing interpersonal skills in working with high- risk individuals and the importance of evidence-based practices. I was able to see how much these practices  effectively helped offenders during their time on probation and the positive changes they made in their lives in  efforts for them to be reintegrated into the community. Also, it was amazing to be able to spend time learning from the previous interns who did field placement at District 12. They were so helpful in explaining some of the expectations of supervisors and the opportunities I should take advantage of within the site. I had no idea at  the beginning of my internship that my interest in conflict management and criminal justice would take me this far. This inspired me to want to work with this population of individuals in the future and I am so grateful for the  opportunity field placement has given me through my experiences at District 12. I will forever be grateful for this  academic experience, and would do it all over again if I could.

Fall 2019 – Jenna Foster

District 12 Probation and Parole has the following vision statement: “We’re here to make good things happen for  other people.” The oce’s vision is accomplished through abiding by the Department of Correction’s mission  statement: “Enhancing the quality of life in the Commonwealth by improving public safety.” Public safety is being  improved in the Commonwealth, “through the reintegration of sentenced men and women in our custody and care by providing supervision and control, eective programs and services in safe environments.” While other sites  may attempt to adhere to their mission statements, the Virginia Department of Corrections has proven their  dedication to enhancing public safety by maintaining the lowest recidivism rate in the country at 23.4%.

During my internship, I was provided with a wide array of hands-on opportunities. Although I was under the  supervision of a sex oender probation ocer, my experiences extended beyond the sex oender unit. I was able to  shadow my supervisor as well as other general probation ocers, the gang unit probation ocer, and the district  mental health clinician. Throughout my time at District 12, I was able to attend court hearings, observe arrests,  help with oender orientation, administer drug screens, complete dierent training courses, assist with home visits,  attend task force and disclosure meetings, as well as numerous other opportunities. I was also able to participate  in conferences and go on tours of Augusta Correctional Center, Middle River Regional Jail, Cold Springs Correctional Center, and The Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation.

In addition to all of the diverse experiences I had, I was one of the rst interns entrusted with a full caseload of my  own oenders. With this caseload, I was able to work on my high-volume case management abilities, learn the best  strategies to build relationships with the oenders, gain a basic understanding of expectations and conditions of  oenders on probation and parole, learn how to utilize CORIS, and learn how to correctly and eciently enter log  notes for personal contacts and community contacts with oenders. Having such a unique opportunity has  substantially guided my career goals. I have now applied for a probation ocer position at District 12 and have  received a second interview with the chief and deputy chief. Without having the experience that I had throughout  my internship at District 12, I am not sure that I would have been so condent about pursuing a career with the  Virginia Department of Corrections.

My contribution project for the oce consisted of two separate parts. I created a re-entry board for one of the  supervising probation ocers who attend the re-entry fairs for inmates and prisoners at nearby facilities. The board  allowed oenders to easily view District 12’s booth and get a general idea about expectations, conditions, and  services oered to oenders. Without having this board, the stigma surrounding probation and parole deterred  oenders from approaching the booth and receiving the information provided. The second part of my contribution  project involved creating a packet of employers that are veried to hire felons. One of the most common excuses  heard from oenders as to why they are not currently employed is that there are no businesses that will hire felons.  With this packet of employers across the district, probation ocers will be able to provide their oenders with this  packet and ensure the ability to obtain employment as a convicted felon is not impossible.

The advantages of deciding to have an internship at District 12 are endless. All of the sta at District 12 are very  kind and willing to help students shape their experience into something that matches their passions and interests.  This site also gives students countless opportunities for hands-on experiences with oenders both in and outside of  the oce. Each ocer in the building wants to make the student’s experience memorable and strives to give them experiences or skills that will be benecial to add to their resume. In addition, all of the staff will treat  students just like they’re another employee in the oce. They will include students in anything that they have an  interest in and value their opinions just as much as other probation ocers. I cannot say enough great things about  District 12 and all of the sta that made my experience so worthwhile. My internship in this oce has given me more  opportunities and skills than I had ever expected, and there isn’t a single part of it that I would change. I am very thankful that taking Field Placement gave me this opportunity and potentially carved the path to my future  career with the Department of Corrections.

Fall 2018 – Haley Brill

District 12: Staunton Probation and Parole follows the mission statement of the Department of Corrections, which  is to “enhance the quality of life in the Commonwealth by improving public safety”. This is done in a variety of ways including “the reintegration of sentenced men and women in their custody and care by providing supervision and  control, effective programs and re-entry services in safe environments which foster positive change and growth  consistent with research-based evidence, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional standards”. D12 has their own  personal vision of “We are here to make good things happen to other people”.

During my time at the site, I was able to have a diverse experience. I shadowed the mental health probation  officer. Through this, I was able to meet and observe the supervision of people with serious mental illnesses. I got  to watch several court hearings and learn about the different documents required for court as well as the different  types of hearings. My time at District 12 allowed me to go to Western State, Middle River Regional Jail, and Cold  Springs. I conducted urinalysis screens, fingerprinting, and presentence interview reports. Towards the end of my  internship, I was able to supervise my own small caseload. This was very exciting and I think has prepared me for  “the real job experience”. I scheduled my own appointments and met with offenders one on one. I conducted  COMPAS assessments and helped offenders come up with goals to reach during their time on probation. I was able  to log my notes and observations into CORIS, the database used for probation.

There are so many advantages to being at Probation and Parole. Every person in the office was helpful to me in  some way, shape, or form. The officers and supervisors wanted to see me succeed in everything that I did. They  included me in everything and treated me like a real part of the office. I was encouraged to give my opinions about the happenings around the office and I participated in the monthly staff meetings as well. There was something  new every day that I went into the office. There was opportunity to get out of the office frequently as well. There  are home visits to be conducted and other types of field work. At this placement site, a person has to expect the  unexpected. It requires being able to shift gears and do something completely different at a moment’s notice. This  was something that I really loved about the office. The internship is what you make of it. They will allow you to go  above and beyond if that is what you’re interested in.

My contribution project involved creating a resource manual of local resources. This was distributed amongst all  the officers. It included information about all the housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment,  and food/clothing resources within in the district. I put the applications for each of these resources in the manual  as well. This allows the officers to be able to have help readily available for their offenders. This is important because the goal of probation is to lower recidivism rates and I believe that this will really help. 

I think conflict management was one of the most important skills that I learned at this placement. No matter what  a future job throws at me, I have learned how to be prepared for the unexpected. It might be that all your  appointments show up at once, one of your offenders gets arrested, or an offender comes in and needs to be  sanctioned. I have loved this experience so much that I have applied here. It really helped me shape what I  wanted to do with my degree. This field placement has truly been the best part of my academic career thus far.

Spring 2017 – Allison Reese

The Staunton Probation and Parole Office’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the Commonwealth and  public safety. They do this through providing supervision and control, having effective programs and reentry  services, and fostering positive change using evidence based practices.

My experience there involved a lot because I tried to make the most of it. I was able to help supervise a low risk  level caseload through which I conducted my own appointments. I shadowed officers in appointments, court, home visits, and orientation. I was able to sit in with the sex offender peer group and learn about what that includes. A  lot of what I did was make appointments for the caseload and home visits and to conduct the actual appointments. I also learned to take drug screens, finger print, and went through metal detector training. I got to participate in  the staff meetings once a month as well.

This site is fantastic is you are interested in conflict management, criminal justice, or high risk populations. At first  I did not think that I would want to be an intern here but after my interview and experiencing the atmosphere I  knew it was a good fit! My advice would be that if you feel like you aren’t getting enough work or experience, then  ask for more. The workers at the site are extremely helpful and friendly and want to make your internship  experience as educational and useful to you as possible. This site will push you out of your comfort zone, but that  it why you should want to be there. My supervisor never made me do things I was uncomfortable with and was  always there to answer questions. I think everyone agrees that drug test are not very fun but they are a new skill  and it is different. My favorite part was feeling like my contribution project was actually helpful. Work with your  supervisor and be observant to determine something that you could contribute to the office; this makes the whole  process so enjoyable.

Through my internship I learned more about evidence based practices and the important role that probation  officers have in the community. It inspired me to work with high risk populations and to continue helping others.  My time was so influential that I have applied for a job opening in their office. For incoming students looking at  internships, if this site at all interests you, definitely try and get an interview and get a feel for it. You might find a  hidden gem of an experience!