(a) Each state probation and parole officer employed by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall:

(1) Investigate all cases referred to him or her for investigation by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation and report in writing on the investigation;

(2) Update the standardized risk and needs assessment adopted by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation pursuant to §62-12-13(h) of this code for each parolee for whom an assessment has not been conducted for parole by a specialized assessment officer;

(3) Supervise each parolee according to the assessment and supervision standards determined by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(4) Furnish to each parolee under his or her supervision a written statement of the conditions of his or her parole together with a copy of the rules prescribed by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the supervision of parolees;

(5) Keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each parolee under his or her supervision and report on the conduct and condition of each parolee in writing as often as required by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(6) Use all practicable and suitable methods to aid and encourage a parolee and to bring about improvement in his or her conduct and condition;

(7) Keep detailed records of his or her work;

(8) Keep accurate and complete accounts of, and give receipts for, all money collected from parolees under his or her supervision, and pay over the money to persons designated by a circuit court or the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation;

(9) Give bond with good security, to be approved by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in a penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000, as determined by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation; and

(10) Perform any other duties required by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(b) Each probation and parole officer, as described in this article, may, with or without an order or warrant: (1) Arrest or order confinement of any parolee or probationer under his or her supervision; and (2) search a parolee or probationer, or a parolee or probationer’s residence or property, under his or her supervision. A probation and parole officer may apply for a search warrant, and execute the search warrant, in connection to a parolee’s whereabouts, or a parolee’s activities. He or she has all the powers of a notary public, with authority to act anywhere within the state.

(c) The Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation may issue a certificate authorizing any state parole officer who has successfully completed the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s training program for firearms certification, which is the equivalent of that required of any correctional employee under §15A-3-10 of this code, to carry firearms or concealed weapons. Any parole officer authorized by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation may, without a state license, carry firearms and concealed weapons. Each state parole officer, authorized by the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation, shall carry with him or her a certificate authorizing him or her to carry a firearm or concealed weapon bearing the official signature of the Commissioner of Corrections and Rehabilitation.