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With an increasing number of states and local governments finding that sending criminals to jail or prison is more expensive than rehabilitating them, they are turning more and more to probation officers for help.
Probation officers supervise people who are placed on probation in lieu of a stint behind bars. In some states, probation officers also work as parole officers, overseeing people who have been released from prison on parole and ensuring these individuals meet the conditions of their release.
What Does a Probation Officer Do?
Probation officers typically work with either adults or juveniles and have a broad range of responsibilities.
They monitor offenders who have been ordered to wear electronic devices that track their location; help offenders get drug- or alcohol-abuse counseling; and report back to courts on how well their clients are meeting their court-ordered restrictions. In some cases, probation officers investigate offenders' backgrounds and recommend probationary restrictions to judges after reviewing their proposal with offenders and their families. Probation officers are often required to testify in court.
Probation officers can sometimes have a very heavy workload, at times supervising as many as 300 cases. High-risk offenders require more time and attention, but, increasingly, probation officers are getting help from community organizations, churches, neighborhood groups and others in keeping tabs on behavior. Many probation officers may also meet offenders in their homes, workplace or therapy sessions.
As with just about any career, being a probation officer can be stressful, yet rewarding work. You sometimes work with dangerous individuals or travel to high-crime areas. However, probation officers can also enjoy a great deal of job satisfaction, knowing that they're helping people lead better, more productive lives.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Probation Officer?
Probation officers need a bachelor's degree from a four-year college in social work, criminal justice or a related field. Since many probation officers are employed by state or local governments, additional qualifications, such as the following, may be required:
Additionally, you may also need a year of experience in a related field. Some states favor a year of graduate study in criminal justice, social work or psychology.
Many states require additional government-taught training programs followed by a certification test. If you've ever been convicted of a felony, you may not qualify for a job.
How to Become a Great Probation Officer
Many parole and probation departments have several levels of jobs, so there is room for advancement. You may find that getting a master's degree in criminal justice, social work or psychology will help you move on to a higher-paying position.
You will need to have a thorough understanding of state laws, legal codes, court procedures and precedents, which can all come with experience and study. In addition, outstanding probation officers are students of human behavior; they understand individual personalities, preferences and motivations.
If you have strong leadership skills and have successfully taken on an increased workload as a probation officer, you may be a candidate for a supervisory role. These jobs are challenging but also rewarding; they allow you to pass along the knowledge and skills you acquired as a probation officer to those with less experience. You may also become involved in setting public policy, opening an avenue for you to use your skills and insight to facilitate improvements to a critical level of law enforcement and society.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), probation officers nationally make an average of $50,500 annually. But the salaries in some states can be significantly higher. For instance, California's nearly 13,000 probation officers make about $77,000 a year.
Resources for Probation Officers
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
| School | Locations | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIU Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| American InterContinental University | FL, GA, TX | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Anthem College | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Argosy University | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, MN, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA | Bachelor | |
| Argosy University Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| Ashworth College | Online | Associate, Diploma | |
| Baker College Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| Bauder College | GA | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Berkeley College | NJ, NY | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Berkeley College Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Briarcliffe College | NY | Associate | |
| Broadview University | UT | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Brown College | MN | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Brown Mackie College | AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, MO, NM, OH, OK, SC, TX | Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma | |
| Carrington College California | CA | Associate | |
| Central Pennsylvania College | PA | Associate, Certificate | |
| Charter College | AK | Associate, Bachelor | |
| CHI Institute | PA | Associate | |
| Colorado Technical University | CO, MO, SD | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Colorado Technical University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Concord Law School | Online | Bachelor | |
| ECPI Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| ECPI University | NC, VA | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Everest College | AZ, CA, CO, NV, OR, TX, UT, VA, WA | Bachelor, Diploma | |
| Everest Institute | FL, NY, PA | Diploma | |
| Everest University | FL | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Everest University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Florida Technical College | FL | Associate | |
| Fortis College | FL, OH, PA | Associate, Coursework, Diploma | |
| Harrison College | IN, OH | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Heald College | CA, HI, OR | Associate | |
| Herzing College | MB, ON, QC | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Hesser College | NH | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Institute of Technology | CA | Associate | |
| ITT Technical Institute | AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Kaplan Career Institute | OH, PA | Associate | |
| Kaplan College KHE | AZ, CA, CO, FL, IN, NC, NV, OH, TX, VA | Associate | |
| Kaplan University KHE | IA, MD, ME, NE | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Kaplan University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Master | |
| Keiser University Campus | FL | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Keiser University eCampus Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Lincoln College of Technology | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | MA | Coursework | |
| Minnesota School of Business | MN | Associate | |
| National American University Campus | CO, KS, MN, MO, NM, SD, TX | Associate, Bachelor | |
| New England Institute of Technology | RI | Associate | |
| Rasmussen College | FL, IL, MN, ND, WI | Associate, Bachelor, Certificate | |
| Sanford Brown Institute | NY | Associate | |
| South University | Online | Master | |
| Southwest Florida College | FL | Bachelor | |
| Stratford Career Institute | Online | Diploma | |
| Strayer University | AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WV | Associate | |
| TESST College of Technology | MD | Associate | |
| UEI College | CA | Diploma | |
| University of Phoenix | AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY | Associate | |
| University of Phoenix Online | Online | Associate | |
| Virginia College Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Walden University | Online | Bachelor |
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