How to Become A Probation Officer

Probation is a type of sentence ordered by a judge. It is usually given instead of a jail sentence. Convicted offenders are permitted to live in the community and a probation officer is required to oversee the activities and overall conduct of offenders on probation.



What is Parole?
Parole is when a prison inmate is released on certain conditions. Inmates are released after serving a part of or their entire sentence. During a parole, an inmate is allowed to live in a community on certain conditions. If the inmate violates those conditions, they can be sent back to prison. Parole officers not only oversee the activities of inmates but also help them adjust in society.

What is the difference between probation and parole officers?
Probation officers are skilled professionals responsible for monitoring convicted offenders who are given probation instead of a jail sentence. Probation officers monitor the daily routine of offenders to see if they are indulging in any criminal activity or not.

In contrast, parole officers supervise convicted individuals who are released after a jail sentence. These offenders do not just need to be monitored for committing a crime, but also need to start leading a normal life. Parole officers create plans for housing, education, employment, and periodic drug screenings for parolees.

Parole and probation officers have a number of similarities, as they both are helping offenders join society as law abiding citizens. They also need to plan and customize their services according to the needs of an offender. The qualifications and skills required for both professions are also similar. However, the following are some of the critical differences between the two professions.
 

  • Types of individuals supervised
    Probation officers have to supervise individuals who have not been to jail. While, parole officers have to keep a check on convicted offenders who have completed their jail sentence or have spent a certain amount of time incarcerated. For parole officers, there is an additional challenge as they need to plan and make efforts to integrate the offender back into the society as productive citizens.
  • Different Organizations
    A state or a federal parole board is responsible for overseeing parole. These boards decide whether an offender is ready to be released or not. A parole officer exercises authority under the state or a federal parole board. On the other hand, probation is an activity which is a sentencing option of the criminal court. Probation officers report to the criminal court about the individual’s progress and performance.
  • Number of Cases
    Parole officers have lesser number of cases as compared to probation officers. Since, parole officers are required to meet with offenders more frequently, they are assigned fewer cases. Offenders who have served a jail sentence generally require more counseling and supervision as compared to the ones on probation.

How to Become a Probation Officer?
To become a probation officer or a parole officer, similar qualifications and skills are required. A bachelor’s degree in business administration, criminal justice, or homeland security is the preferred degree program for both careers. These degree programs cover important areas such as management techniques, criminal justice procedures, and security training.

After completing their bachelors, the next step for parole and probation officers is to enroll in a training program. Parole officer training programs are offered at a number of vocational schools. In these programs you develop skills in self defense, standard security procedures, and reporting. Training programs are more job-oriented and focus entirely on the chosen career.

Probation vs Parole Careers
Parole and probation officer careers can be pursued at many levels. Parole and probation officer jobs can be both challenging and fulfilling. The demand normally fluctuates with the number of released inmates and offenders; a rise in parolees will be directly proportional to the demand of parole and probation officers. Although, both professions have a different job description, they both work towards the rehabilitation of offenders.

Parole and Probation Officer Salary
Parole and probation officer salary depends greatly on qualification, training, and the level of job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Parole vs Probation (What is the difference)

What is Probation?
Probation is a type of sentence ordered by a judge. It is usually given instead of a jail sentence. Convicted offenders are permitted to live in the community and a probation officer is required to oversee the activities and overall conduct of offenders on probation.

What is Parole?
Parole is when a prison inmate is released on certain conditions. Inmates are released after serving a part of or their entire sentence. During a parole, an inmate is allowed to live in a community on certain conditions. If the inmate violates those conditions, they can be sent back to prison. Parole officers not only oversee the activities of inmates but also help them adjust in society.

What is the difference between probation and parole officers?
Probation officers are skilled professionals responsible for monitoring convicted offenders who are given probation instead of a jail sentence. Probation officers monitor the daily routine of offenders to see if they are indulging in any criminal activity or not.

In contrast, parole officers supervise convicted individuals who are released after a jail sentence. These offenders do not just need to be monitored for committing a crime, but also need to start leading a normal life. Parole officers create plans for housing, education, employment, and periodic drug screenings for parolees.

Parole and probation officers have a number of similarities, as they both are helping offenders join society as law abiding citizens. They also need to plan and customize their services according to the needs of an offender. The qualifications and skills required for both professions are also similar. However, the following are some of the critical differences between the two professions.

How to Become Probation Officer?
To become a probation officer or a parole officer, similar qualifications and skills are required. A bachelor’s degree in business administration, criminal justice, or homeland security is the preferred degree program for both careers. These degree programs cover important areas such as management techniques, criminal justice procedures, and security training.

After completing their bachelors, the next step for parole and probation officers is to enroll in a training program. Parole officer training programs are offered at a number of vocational schools. In these programs you develop skills in self defense, standard security procedures, and reporting. Training programs are more job-oriented and focus entirely on the chosen career.

Probation vs Parole Careers
Parole and probation officer careers can be pursued at many levels. Parole and probation officer jobs can be both challenging and fulfilling. The demand normally fluctuates with the number of released inmates and offenders; a rise in parolees will be directly proportional to the demand of parole and probation officers. Although, both professions have a different job description, they both work towards the rehabilitation of offenders. 

  • Types of individuals supervised
  • Probation officers have to supervise individuals who have not been to jail. While, parole officers have to keep a check on convicted offenders who have completed their jail sentence or have spent a certain amount of time incarcerated. For parole officers, there is an additional challenge as they need to plan and make efforts to integrate the offender back into the society as productive citizens.
  • Different Organizations
    A state or a federal parole board is responsible for overseeing parole. These boards decide whether an offender is ready to be released or not. A parole officer exercises authority under the state or a federal parole board. On the other hand, probation is an activity which is a sentencing option of the criminal court. Probation officers report to the criminal court about the individual’s progress and performance.
  • Number of Cases
  • Parole officers have lesser number of cases as compared to probation officers. Since, parole officers are required to meet with offenders more frequently, they are assigned fewer cases. Offenders who have served a jail sentence generally require more counseling and supervision as compared to the ones on probation.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State

Employment

Employment per thousand jobs

Location quotient

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

California 1660 0.11 1.26 18.13 37720
Florida 1130 0.14 1.68 17.97 37370
Illinois 960 0.16 1.92 17.9 37240
Texas 760 0.07 0.78 16.62 34570
New York 650 0.07 0.85 20.12 41840

Source: bls.gov

How Long Does It Take to Become a Probation Officer?

The length of the hiring period usually varies from state to state. Generally, probation officers have to undergo a six week training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in South Carolina after they have been selected. They receive training on self-defense tactics, firearms, report writing, and investigation procedures. Once the orientation and training is successfully completed, officers take up on the job training.

What Are the Requirements to Become a Probation Officer?

In order to be eligible for employment as a Probation Officer, the applicant must be a US citizen, should have a bachelor's/master's degree in a related field, should have a valid driver’s license and must be in a good physical shape. In order to be selected for this position, the applicants are required to pass a competency exam, a rigorous background check and a pre-employment drug test. Only those who successfully pass these stages are eligible to be hired for this position.

How Much Can I Make after Becoming a Probation Officer?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Correctional Treatment Specialists and Probation Officers earned an annual media pay of $53,020 in 2018. In 2016, the number of jobs in this field was 91,300. Moreover, employment in this field is predicted to grow at 6% from 2016-2026.

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:Criminal Justice Probation Officer Policies requires that the officers must go through a series of tests, explain?

A:After completing criminal justice probation officer degree programs, individual must clear a training program and a test. Probation officers cannot begin a career in this field unless they have gone through a background check and a series of tests. This involves drug tests, felony charge tests, criminal charges test, psychological tests, pressure tests, and physical tests.

Q:Is training necessary for pursuing probation officer careers?

A:If you want to pursue a job as a probation officer, it is important that you have all the required qualifications and training. Several academies and law enforcement agencies provide probation training programs to students. These programs are more career oriented and focus on skill development. You can gain insight on probation officer careers and job duties through training.

Q:What duties should I expect in probation officer jobs?

A:A probation officer job entails the following basic duties: supervise probationers, manage case plans, establish pro-social behavior through various activities, over-see probationers case, sanctions, recommend termination or extension of probation, maintain records and documents, comply with policies, participate in committees, manage probation offices, assist victims, forward recommendations, analyze data, and more.

Q:How can I become a probation officer?

A:The academic path to becoming a probation officer has been explained here: you must first complete high school education, and then enroll in a bachelor degree in a related academic area such as criminal justice or business administration. A minimum bachelor degree is required for this career. After this, you must acquire training and skills through law enforcement programs. These are the minimum requirements of a probation officer career.

Q:How to be a probation officer with a bachelor degree in criminal justice?

A:You can become a probation officer with the right qualifications and skills. Acquiring a bachelor degree is mandatory for this career. The recommended areas of study include criminal justice, social work, and homeland security. After getting your bachelor degree, you can enroll in a training program and apply for internship. This will help you develop practical skills and also gain hands on experience.

Q:What is probation?

A:Probation is a permit given by the court system. A person is given a period of probation, in case he or she is found guilty of committing a crime. Probation allows a person to stay in community and is supervised by a probation officer. However, not every offender gets the chance to have a probation.

Q:While working as a probation officer, what will I have to do on the job?

A:Probation officers are required to supervise offenders. The job tasks typically include: evaluating the performance of an offender, monitoring progress, conducting meetings, assisting treatment specialist, evaluating treatment plans, and more. These officers are integral to the systematic functioning of prisons and jails. Browse through our page for more detail about the career.

Q:When researching on How to become a Probation Officer I came across the job description. Can you explain what the job will require?

A:The job description is a very important part of the knowledge of how to become a probation officer. Generally, probation officers are in charge of supervising the behavior of known offenders. They typically monitor the progress of these offenders to ensure they are correctly assimilating back into society as per the rules of their probation.

Q:how do i become a probation officer if I have only completed a GED?

A:If you've asked the question 'how do I become a probation officer with a GED' then you won't have to worry. Becoming a probation officer only requires the completion of a high school diploma or an equivalent GED qualification. You can easily apply for the position online through your local state judicial office.

Q:how to become probation officer with a sealed juvenile record?

A:Actually, there are many states in the US which have very strict rules about past offenders not holding this position. But if you still want to know how to become a probation officer then your best bet is to personally submit your CV along with a letter of intent outlining your juvenile offenses. This may increase the chances of your application being accepted.

Q:Can you tell me how to become a juvenile probation officer?

A:To be a juvenile probation officer you need to first follow all the necessary steps to become a probation officer which require you to be a U.S citizen, have at least a bachelor's degree, be between the ages of 18 and 37 and pass an entrance test and a background check. Once you are eligible, you get a choice of either getting a job as an adult probation officer or juvenile probation officer.

Q:how do you become a probation officer in a prison?

A:Essentially, probation officers are employed outside of prisons to ensure that registered offenders do not partake in any illegal or uncivil activity. If you want to work inside a prison then you search how do you become a corrections officer, rather than your current search on how do you become a probation officer.

Q:Can you tell me the steps to becoming a probation officer?

A:To be a juvenile officer, you need to follow certain steps before you are eligible. First you need at least a bachelor's degree while some employers might also require a master's degree. You have to be between 21 and 37 years of age and may also require some job experience along with a clean criminal record as well as a clean bill of health. You also need to give an admittance test and have to be a U.S. citizen.

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