officers supervise general caseloads with offenders who are convicted of a variety of offenses. Others may hold specialized caseload positions, and work with specific groups of offenders such as sex offenders, gang members, offenders sentenced to electronic monitoring (such as house arrest) or GPS monitoring, and cases with severe mental health, substance abuse and/or violent histories. Training Probation and parole officer training will vary depending on the legislated power given or the socioeconomics of the region. In some jurisdictions, they may be certified law enforcement officials who have completed mandated police academy training. Other may act as court officials with a more social work oriented or bureaucratic role. In North America, standard training usually includes: Use of force and restraints (i.e., handcuffs, leg-irons, belly-chains) Weapons (firearms, taser, pepper spray, etc.) Self-defense and subject control First aid and CPR Report writing Courtroom testimony Defusing hostility Interpersonal communication Correction law Criminal and criminal procedural law Case work and criminal investigations Gang intelligence Many jurisdictions have also, in recent years, expanded basic training to include: Suicide prevention/crisis intervention Critical incident stress management Occupational Safety and Health Act (U.S.) or Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (Canada) Gang awareness and intervention Crisis negotiation Drug abuse training Rehabilitation programs Rapid response training Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) United States In the United States, probation and parole officers exist at the city, county, state, and federal levels, that is, wherever there is a court of competent jurisdiction. In 2020, over four million Americans were on probation or parole. Most probation and parole officers in the U.S. are required to possess a college degree, a valid driver's license, and must pass a series of background checks and psychological exams. Most often, probation and parole officers will meet with offenders on their caseload either in an office setting or at the offender's residence or place of employment. These appointments usually consist of ensuring conditions of supervision are being upheld by gathering information related to the offender's whereabouts and activities. This may also include drug testing, specific case planning in the form of referrals to treatment programs based on court conditions or identified programming needs, and assisting offenders in overcoming barriers such as unemployment, homelessness, mental and physical health, etc. Officers will also collect the payments made by offenders toward any owed restitution, court obligations, and in some cases supervision obligations they may owe. Depending on specific departmental policy and