What Does it Take to Be a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist?
Job Description: Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
Daily Life Of a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist
- Provide offenders or inmates with assistance in matters concerning detainers, sentences in other jurisdictions, writs, and applications for social assistance.
- Write reports describing offenders' progress.
- Develop liaisons and networks with other parole officers, community agencies, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, and aftercare agencies to plan for helping offenders with life adjustments.
- Conduct prehearing and presentencing investigations and testify in court regarding offenders' backgrounds and recommended sentences and sentencing conditions.
- Identify and approve work placements for offenders with community service sentences.
- Investigate alleged parole violations, using interviews, surveillance, and search and seizure.
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Qualities of a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Other Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist Job Titles
- Certified Juvenile Probation Officer
- Parole Officer
- Deputy Probation Officer (DPO)
- Officer
- Adult Parole Officer
Job Outlook for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
There were about 91,300 jobs for Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,200 new jobs for Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist are Nevada, Texas, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, New Jersey, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist Make?
The salary for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists ranges between about $34,630 and $94,770 a year.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists who work in California, Rhode Island, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,680 |
| Alaska | $67,320 |
| Arizona | $54,670 |
| Arkansas | $38,700 |
| California | $89,240 |
| Colorado | $60,150 |
| Florida | $35,630 |
| Georgia | $43,100 |
| Idaho | $42,680 |
| Illinois | $67,910 |
| Indiana | $48,460 |
| Iowa | $70,360 |
| Kansas | $43,010 |
| Kentucky | $38,080 |
| Louisiana | $48,280 |
| Maine | $46,510 |
| Maryland | $59,070 |
| Massachusetts | $69,190 |
| Michigan | $60,490 |
| Minnesota | $67,000 |
| Mississippi | $36,790 |
| Missouri | $37,320 |
| Montana | $45,890 |
| Nebraska | $45,810 |
| Nevada | $61,340 |
| New Hampshire | $63,790 |
| New Jersey | $73,810 |
| New Mexico | $42,970 |
| New York | $70,690 |
| North Carolina | $44,710 |
| North Dakota | $54,950 |
| Ohio | $50,410 |
| Oklahoma | $37,730 |
| Oregon | $61,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,280 |
| Rhode Island | $83,060 |
| South Carolina | $43,660 |
| South Dakota | $46,490 |
| Tennessee | $41,930 |
| Texas | $46,950 |
| Utah | $51,150 |
| Vermont | $64,530 |
| Virginia | $48,250 |
| Washington | $62,270 |
| West Virginia | $39,530 |
| Wisconsin | $47,760 |
| Wyoming | $48,790 |
What Tools & Technology do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Appointment scheduling software
- Case management software
- Speech recognition software
How to Become a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist
What kind of Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist?
Where do Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Work?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Army Medicine via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia
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