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There is never a dull moment on the job, says parole officer Tara Tomasi.

Tomasi recalls one of her most special moments on the job -- she attended an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) anniversary for one of her offenders.

"I had been working for several months with a particular offender who was typically difficult to get along with, had refused all assistance... and had done very poorly in the community during prior releases," she says. "Through perseverance and patience from both of us, this offender successfully reached his warrant expiry date without any suspensions or re-offenses. A few months after the completion of his sentence, the offender invited me to speak at his 'one-year sobriety' cake celebration with AA. What an honor for me and a triumph for him!"

Tomasi says the job has helped her on a very personal level.

"From a personal perspective, being a parole officer brings me countless personal benefits," she says. "On a daily basis, work enhances my ability to feel compassion toward others. Assisting offenders with their safe reintegration is both humbling and challenging."

For Brenda Lepke, being a parole officer is a satisfying career because she's able to help people who have made bad decisions in their lives.

"Personally, I get gratification from helping people who have made mistakes in life and learn from them and get off to a good start in a new life as a healthy, productive citizen," she says.

The job offers a lot of variety. On any given day, Lepke says she could be interviewing someone in jail, taking another one to rehab, congratulating one on finding a job, visiting one at a homeless shelter and arresting one for testing positive for drugs. She could also play an attorney-like role in a hearing presenting a case for revocation, write reports, conduct a residence search for weapons, put an electronic ankle monitor on someone, or serve warrants with the U.S. Marshalls.

There is a dangerous aspect to the job. After all, parole officers deal with people who have committed crimes -- sometimes violent crimes. As a result, parole officers may carry weapons to protect themselves. Carrying weapons and spending so much time driving are the most dangerous parts of law enforcement, says Lepke. However, working with violent offenders is no walk in the park, either.

“Most officers I know have been in a physical altercation on the job," says Lepke. "Our secretaries are behind bullet-proof glass. We wear our body armor every day when visiting parolees. I have murderers... and armed robbers on my caseload. Our office had a murderer serve 30 years, get out and nine months later murder again while on parole. Working with people high on drugs makes them behave erratically.”

The job is serious, but there can be moments of fun, too, says Lepke.

"It's funny when I visit a parolee and catch them by complete surprise," she says. "Like when I pulled up to the mailbox area of an apartment complex and just sat there in my car watching my client reading his mail. Oblivious to my presence, he finally looked up and did a double take. The look on his face was priceless."

Lepke says the job is very rewarding when you see offenders turn their lives around.

"It's extremely touching when you put someone in a drug treatment program and you visit them when they come out and they have gained weight and look and act healthy, vibrant and happy," she says. "It's totally the opposite of what they were like when they were in the crux of their addiction."

Lepke shares a story that happened at work when she watched a family reunite through the most unlikely of ways.

"A guy lost parental rights when incarcerated and lost track of his daughters, who were adopted 12 years ago," she says. "He paroled this year and went online and looked himself up on a mugshot website. There was a comment on there from his daughter stating, 'This is my biological father,' and asking him to e-mail her. Now they call or text daily!"

Keith Hardison is the chief administrative officer at the Association of Paroling Authorities International. He agrees that being a parole officer is a satisfying job.

"I would say that the main thing a person gets out of the job is a sense of satisfaction that they are helping to make their community safer," he says.

Pursuing a career as a parole officer is something Tomasi highly recommends. "Especially those interested in a challenging, rewarding career that focuses on helping people and protecting society," she says.

The career may be a right fit, depending on where you live and how important a big salary is to you, adds Lepke. "Different states pay very differently," she says. "Also, if having a job where you do not sit at a desk all day is important, this job is great. The schedule is very flexible, far better than working holidays and late shifts like police have to work."