When Megan Wilding graduated the Basic Parole Agent Academy, she was cheered on by her retired parole agent parents. She was one of 43 agents to graduate the first parole academy in 2025.
Wilding comes to the Division of Adult Parole Operations with years of probation experience.
“I worked at the Shasta County Probation Department for five years,” Wilding explained. “It kind of made me excited to help be the advocate for them and that’s what led me to go for parole.”
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Generations of parole agents
“Growing up, both of my parents were parole agents in Redding and then in Red Bluff. I grew up listening to their stories about their days at work and that led me to a career in law enforcement,” she said.
As Wilding explains, parole agents play double roles in reentry. “We have that law enforcement role but then we also have that more of a social worker side. We’re trying to help them with services to get them back into the community. We’re also going into their houses and getting them to their classes, graduations and things like that.”
She said these supportive actions help give parole-supervised people a different perspective on law enforcement.
Her parents said they are very proud.
“CDCR has been really great for our family,” said her dad. “Knowing she wants to follow in our footsteps fills me with pride.”
Her mother agreed.
“She’s always been a hard worker and seeing her carry this on (is a) very proud moment,” her mother said.
Parole agent graduation 2025 in photos
Video by Emily Humpal, information officer II
Photos by Sgt. Eric Rangel, RA McGee Correctional Training Center
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
Interested Correctional Officer applicants can apply online at JoinCDCR.com.
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