More About Probation Officers
by Dawn Papandrea
If you are considering a career in law enforcement, think about training to become a probation officer. Probation officers play a large role in the rehabilitation of offenders, working with them to see the error of their ways and ensure that they make better life choices in the future.
What does a probation officer do?
Some individuals who are convicted of crimes are sentenced to a probationary period rather than time in prison. Of course, these individuals must remain out of trouble and on the right side of the law during and—hopefully—after the probation periods, but they have the assistance of probation officers to get them through. Probation officers, like parole officers, work with individuals to ensure that they do not commit any new crimes, which will more than certainly land them in prison.
Probation officers maintain personal contact with offenders and their families, meeting with them often in their homes, at their jobs, or at therapy sessions. The goal of probation is to rehabilitate offenders and keep them out of trouble for the rest of their lives, so probation officers often enlist the help of others who have influence in the offenders’ lives, such as friends, religious figures, or other members of the community. Probation officers usually work with either adult or juvenile offenders, though in smaller jurisdictions, they are known to work with offenders of all ages.
Probation officers often maintain large caseloads of individuals, working with the court system to inform the authorities of the progress that offenders are making in accordance with their sentences. They work from home or in offices at government facilities, using a variety of computer technology to write reports and maintain records of offenders’ programs.
How much do probation officers get paid and what kinds of probation officer jobs can I get?
Salaries for probation officers depend on the level of government at which the probation program is placed, and salaries further depend on the size of the budget that is allocated for probation programs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for probation officers was around $42,500. A small percentage earn lower than $28,000, while another small portion was reported as having earned more than $71,000. The median salary for probation officers employed in state government agencies was estimated to be around $43,000. Not surprisingly, there are higher paying probation officer jobs in urban areas, as there are higher crime rates and therefore more individuals entering probation programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports a positive job outlook for probation officers, with an 11 percent growth over the next decade. As a result of stricter sentencing guidelines, there has been an increase in the prison population, but due to prison overcrowding, there has been a shift in emphasis towards probation programs wherever possible.
If you are looking for a career in criminal justice or law enforcement, consider training to be a probation officer and become an instrumental part of helping people turn over a new leaf in their lives.
What does a probation officer do?
Some individuals who are convicted of crimes are sentenced to a probationary period rather than time in prison. Of course, these individuals must remain out of trouble and on the right side of the law during and—hopefully—after the probation periods, but they have the assistance of probation officers to get them through. Probation officers, like parole officers, work with individuals to ensure that they do not commit any new crimes, which will more than certainly land them in prison.
Probation officers maintain personal contact with offenders and their families, meeting with them often in their homes, at their jobs, or at therapy sessions. The goal of probation is to rehabilitate offenders and keep them out of trouble for the rest of their lives, so probation officers often enlist the help of others who have influence in the offenders’ lives, such as friends, religious figures, or other members of the community. Probation officers usually work with either adult or juvenile offenders, though in smaller jurisdictions, they are known to work with offenders of all ages.
Probation officers often maintain large caseloads of individuals, working with the court system to inform the authorities of the progress that offenders are making in accordance with their sentences. They work from home or in offices at government facilities, using a variety of computer technology to write reports and maintain records of offenders’ programs.
How much do probation officers get paid and what kinds of probation officer jobs can I get?
Salaries for probation officers depend on the level of government at which the probation program is placed, and salaries further depend on the size of the budget that is allocated for probation programs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for probation officers was around $42,500. A small percentage earn lower than $28,000, while another small portion was reported as having earned more than $71,000. The median salary for probation officers employed in state government agencies was estimated to be around $43,000. Not surprisingly, there are higher paying probation officer jobs in urban areas, as there are higher crime rates and therefore more individuals entering probation programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports a positive job outlook for probation officers, with an 11 percent growth over the next decade. As a result of stricter sentencing guidelines, there has been an increase in the prison population, but due to prison overcrowding, there has been a shift in emphasis towards probation programs wherever possible.
If you are looking for a career in criminal justice or law enforcement, consider training to be a probation officer and become an instrumental part of helping people turn over a new leaf in their lives.
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