1. (a) The secretary of corrections shall appoint parole officers in a number sufficient to administer the provisions of this act. Parole officers appointed by the secretary of corrections shall have and exercise police powers to the same extent as other law enforcement officers and such powers may be exercised by them anywhere within the state. Such parole officers shall, in addition to their regular compensation, receive their actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

2. (b) The secretary may utilize the volunteer services of, or contract with, any of the following to obtain parole services if necessary and if an economic benefit to the state or an improvement in parole and correctional objectives can be shown:

   1. (1) Any qualified individual, partnership, corporation or organization;
   2. (2) any agency of the state;
   3. (3) the United States; or

   4. (4) any political subdivision of the state, or any agency thereof.

      Volunteer or contract parole officers shall have the same powers and duties as parole officers employed by the secretary, except that they shall not be deemed to be law enforcement officers or have law enforcement powers.

L. 1973, ch. 339, § 20; L. 1978, ch. 120, § 16; L. 1981, ch. 349, § 1; July 1.