Correctional treatment specialists work in jails, prisons, or parole or probation agencies.

In jails and prisons, correctional treatment specialists evaluate the progress of inmates. They may evaluate them using questionnaires and psychological tests. Correctional treatment specialists also work with probation officers and other agencies to develop parole and release plans for inmates. Their case reports, which discuss the inmate’s history and likelihood of committing another crime, are provided to the appropriate parole board when their clients are eligible for release. In addition, they plan education and training programs to improve offenders’ job skills and provide them with coping, anger management, and drug and sexual abuse counseling either individually or in groups. They usually write treatment plans and summaries for each client.

Correctional treatment specialists working in parole and probation agencies perform many of the same duties as their counterparts who work in correctional institutions.