Career and School Info for Probation Officers

Localize Your School Search

Search by State

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Schools in All States

Degrees and Schools

There are many degrees which qualify individuals for parole and probation jobs including criminal justice, social work, psychology, counseling, sociology or other similar degree. Some criminal justice programs allow students to select a concentration in corrections, which is an appropriate choice for those who want to become a parole or probation officer. Most criminal justice programs are at the bachelor's level although associate degrees and master's degrees in criminal justice are also available. Some social work programs have concentrations in corrections or offer elective courses in the field. Additionally, undergraduate and graduate certificates in corrections can be earned at various schools.

Due to the wide variety of programs that are appropriate for this career, individuals should research job postings to see what types of educational background are most in-demand in their area. Talking with parole and probation officers to see what types of programs they think are most valuable for their line of work may also be helpful in choosing a program.

Coursework

Students enrolled in a criminal justice program will take classes such as those listed below:

• punishment and corrections
• American courts
• theories of crime
• crime control strategies
• criminal law and reasoning
• juvenile defenders
• offender rehabilitation
• criminal behavior
• applied crime mapping

Online Classes and Programs

There are a large number of criminal justice and social work programs available online at all levels. These convenient programs appeal to the many working students who are drawn to a career as a probation or parole officer. These schools and programs should have accreditation from an agency that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education.

Employment Requirements

Most positions require that candidates have at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a human services field such as counseling, psychology, sociology or similar field. It is also not uncommon for positions to require prior experience in human services or, in lieu of that experience, a master's degree in a relevant field. Applicants are also typically subject to drug screening and a security background check as well as physical and psychological evaluations. Applicants should have strong computer and writing skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills. Some positions will require the applicant be willing and able to carry a firearm.

How to Evaluate Schools and Programs

When choosing a program that will lead to a career as a parole or probation officer, the following questions should be considered:

• Electives - If the program is not specifically designed for parole and probation careers, are electives available that prepare students for this field?
• Credit Transfers - Can the program be shortened by transferring credits from another program?
• Working Students - Does the program offer enough flexibility for working students? Can students set their own pace for completion?
• Financial Aid - What financial aid is available? What are the likely remaining costs the student will be responsible for?

Probation Officers Job Description

Criminals who have been released from prison or who are sentenced to probation instead of prison require supervision to make sure they stay out of trouble and move their lives in a positive direction. Probation and parole officers, who are also called community supervision officers in some states, are given responsibility for making sure criminal offenders do not commit additional crimes and that they meet the requirements of their probation or parole. They also help arrange educational, job training, job placement and substance abuse resources. Parole and probation officers are rewarded when they are able to help past offenders become productive, law-abiding members of society.

Probation officers usually work only with adult or with juvenile offenders. Other similar occupations include correctional treatment specialists and pretrial service officers. All of these professionals are employed by federal, state and local governments in the probation and parole departments and court systems.

Probation, parole and other correctional officers may have some or all of the following responsibilities:

• meeting with offenders, often at their work or home
• consulting with community members and family
• arranging job training and substance abuse treatment
• conducting background investigations
• writing court recommendations and reports
• appearing at court hearings

Resources

American Probation and Parole Association - The APPA is a membership organization that provides training, advocacy, resources, collaboration and standards for parole and probation professionals.

Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association - The FPPOA aims to help their membership of federal probation and pretrial officers develop professionally through education, legislative advising and standards.

American Correctional Association - The ACA serves correctional professionals from all disciplines. They offer professional development, certifications, standards, publications, research and networking.