Paul Collette spent years working inside the criminal justice system as a New York probation officer before leaving to become a federal probation officer. In this episode, Paul pulls back the curtain on what probation really looks like, sharing real stories from the job while breaking down the bi...
Paul Collette spent years working inside the criminal justice system as a New York probation officer before leaving to become a federal probation officer. In this episode, Paul pulls back the curtain on what probation really looks like, sharing real stories from the job while breaking down the biggest myths and truths the public gets wrong. He talks about supervising violent criminals and sex offenders, handling high-risk situations, and the daily pressure of balancing public safety with rehabilitation. From the differences between state and federal probation to the realities of working with dangerous individuals, this conversation offers an unfiltered, insider look at life behind the badge and what it truly means to work inside the probation system.
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#ProbationOfficer #CriminalJustice #TrueCrimePodcast #LawEnforcementStories #PrisonSystem #JusticeSystem #BehindTheBadge #realcrimestory
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Connect with Paul Collette:
https://sapservicesct.com/about
Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en
https://ianbick.com/
Shop Locked In Merch:
http://www.ianbick.com/shop
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: Supervising High-Risk Offenders on Probation
02:00 Meet Paul Collette: Life After 20+ Years in Probation
05:00 Therapy, Family & Rebuilding After Law Enforcement
07:00 Growing Up in a Military Family & Constant Relocation
11:00 Early Influences That Shaped His Career Path
14:00 Social Work vs Law Enforcement: Choosing Probation
17:00 First Jobs & Breaking Into the Probation System
20:00 Becoming a New York Probation Officer
24:00 The Reality of Probation Work: Stress, Risk & Responsibility
29:00 Probation Officers vs Police: Power, Authority & Limits
33:00 Supervising Dangerous Offenders: Daily Risks on the Job
38:00 Empathy vs Enforcement: How the Job Changes You
40:00 Transitioning From State to Federal Probation
44:00 Inside Federal Probation: Reports, Caseloads & Pressure
48:00 Judges, Sentencing & the Flaws in the Justice System
53:00 How Much Power Does a Probation Officer Really Have?
58:00 Transfers, Burnout & Career Turning Points
01:02:00 Becoming a Federal Sex Offender Specialist
01:09:00 Supervising Sex Offenders: Monitoring, Limits & Reality
01:17:00 Recidivism: Why the System Struggles to Prevent Reoffending
01:23:00 Restitution, Supervision & Overlooked System Details
01:28:00 Cooperators, PSI Reports & Prison Outcomes
01:34:00 Mental Health, Trauma & the Hidden Cost of the Job
01:41:00 Why He Finally Left Probation After 20+ Years
01:48:00 Advice for Returning Citizens & People on Supervision
01:53:00 Life After Probation: Therapy, Teaching & Helping Others
01:57:00 Final Thoughts on the Justice System & Closing
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