Criminal Justice Careers: Becoming a Probation Officer

Not every criminal convicted of a crime goes to prison. Some are sentenced to probation. During probation, the offender must meet court requirements, including no further trouble with the law. Violation of probation usually results in a prison sentence.
 
Probation officers help prevent felony probation violation by working with the offender. The probation officer monitors the offender and ensures he or she is complying with their sentencing requirements. If needed, the probation officer helps the offender receive substance abuse counseling and rehabilitation services.

Probation Officer: Law Enforcement Job Description

A probation officer has a similar law enforcement job to a parole officer, although the two criminal justice careers work with different offenders.
    • A probation officer works with offenders sentenced to probation rather than imprisonment
    • A parole officer works with prison inmates who have been granted parole after serving time in jail.
     
 
The distinction is a fine one, and in some states the two jobs are combined as a single position.
 
The position of probation officer is a high-stress job. The probation officer may work with dangerous offenders, and must also often deal with the offender’s family. Court deadlines are often tight, and a probation officer may handle anywhere from 20 to 100 cases at one time.
 
For those who can handle the job’s stresses, however, the position of probation officer can be one of the most rewarding jobs in criminal justice. While cases often end in violation of probation, officers can take great pride in those cases that end in successful rehabilitation.
 
A probation officer’s duties include:
  • arranging for counseling, job training or substance abuse treatment
  • arranging for drug screening tests for offenders
  • maintaining contact with the offender and his/her family
  • meeting court deadlines
  • monitoring movement of offenders wearing electronic detection devices
  • researching backgrounds of defendants for courts
  • reporting felony probation violation incidents
  • reviewing sentencing recommendations with offenders
  • supervising people on probation
  • writing pre-sentence reports for courts.
 

Criminal Justice Careers and Salaries

Like many criminal justice careers, probation officer positions are expected to grow at the average profession’s growth. Position availability is subject to government funding, but as jail populations continue to grow, many states are considering increasing probation sentences.
 
The average probation officer salary is $42,500 a year, with the middle 50 percent earning $33,880 to $56,280. The top ten percent earners in the field earn over $71,000, while the lowest paid may make less than $28,000 a year. Like many jobs in criminal justice, probation officer positions in urban centers tend to pay more than the same jobs in rural locations.

Training and Education for Probation Officers

College education is required for most probation officer positions. A master’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice or a related field may be required of applicants who have no related experience. Applicants who have experience working may find employment with bachelor’s degrees in those disciplines. Related experience includes other social works and criminal justice careers, including:
  • corrections
  • counseling
  • criminal investigations
  • parole
  • pretrial services
  • social work
  • substance abuse treatment.
 
In addition, probation officer applicants should be in good emotional and physical shape. Most probation officer positions require the applicant to be at least 21 years old, while federal employers will not consider any applicants older than 37. Like many jobs in criminal justice, felony convictions will usually disqualify individuals from this particular law enforcement job.

Promotion and Advancement Outlook for Probation Officers

Probation officers can be promoted into administration and supervisory positions in their departments, with seniority and experience usually determining promotions. Education credentials can also influence promotion.
 
Probation officers also possess skill sets that are valuable in other criminal justice careers, and may enter fields such as corrections, rehabilitation services, or court-related work, amongst other jobs.

Probation Officer Associations

Like many criminal justice careers, probation officers have a wide range of associations and organizations to help them stay up-to-date on the latest in their profession. Probation officer associations can be found at both local and state levels.
 
Probation officer organizations also operate nationally. The following are a few examples:
  • American Probation and Parole Association
  • Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association
  • United Probation Officer’s Association.
 
Share |