Two of the most common types of probation jobs are probation officers and probation officer assistants. Officers assist those who have been found guilty of a crime. A probation officer assistant typically assists a probation officer in the writing of reports and/or other paperwork-related tasks.
Probation jobs are typically associated with prison or government systems. Probation officers, who supervise either adults or juveniles who have been convicted of a crime, are a common example of these jobs. People who are under the supervision of a probation officer are usually sentenced to probation rather than prison. The job of a probation officer is to keep an eye on these people to make sure they follow any court orders and don’t commit any more crimes.
Probation jobs sometimes require working with specific types of offenders, such as sex offenders or those charged with felonies. Working with adults or children can be a specialty in these jobs. Probation officer jobs typically entail dealing with a large caseload and a wide range of offenders. Because probation officers typically do not have a lot of time to spend with each client, the job is sometimes seen as more administrative than rehabilitative.
Adult and juvenile probation jobs have similar responsibilities. Client behavior must be monitored and written records of any progress or transgressions are required in both youth and adult probation jobs. People who work in probation jobs are in charge of ensuring that the terms of probation set the court are followed. Clients are frequently met at their homes or in the probation officer’s office to accomplish this.
Adult probation jobs may entail visiting clients at home or at work to assess their progress or living conditions. If a client violates a probation condition, the probation officer will report it to the court. The client may face police involvement and court sanctions, including prison time, depending on the severity of the violation.
Typically, youth probation officers work with schools or colleges. Students may be required to maintain good attendance and grades in school as part of a probationary condition. If a student violates one of the terms of probation, the school will usually contact a probation officer.
Probation officers are frequently required to appear in court. This part of the job may entail compiling reports or giving depositions in court. A probation officer is frequently in charge of making recommendations to the court about a client. These suggestions may include revoking probation or requesting that certain orders be modified the court.
Probation officer jobs require some social work. A probation officer may suggest a variety of community programs to help a client change his or her behavior. Probation officers must have good working relationships with a variety of community agencies in order to accomplish this.
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, or a related field is frequently required for probation officer positions. A master’s degree may be required in some cases. It’s also possible that passing a licensing exam is required.