Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists essential career information:
- 2011 median pay: $47,840
- 2010, number of jobs: 493,100
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 18 percent
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists; what they do:
Once a judge sentences a criminal to jail or prison, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists take over to monitor their behavior while in jail and after release. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with offenders to help prevent repeat offenses.
A correctional treatment specialist career and a probation officer career include providing social services to help offenders rehabilitate while in custody or during probation or parole.
Probation officers and correctional counselors make recommendations as part of the rehabilitation plan, in areas such as conditional releases, education and employment requirements.
People in this field often find work as a federal probation officers, community supervision officers, pretrial service officers, parole officers, correctional treatment specialists and correctional counselors.
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists job duties:
- Recommending remedial action or initiating court action if offenders violate probation or parole stipulations
- Evaluating probationers and parolees’ progress regularly
- Talking to offenders about the role drugs, alcohol and anger may have played in their criminal behavior.
- Writing reports about parolees and probationers assigned to them
- Supervising people on electronic home monitoring; monitoring curfew or visiting home, work or school
- Arranging for health care or substance abuse treatment services
- Providing offenders with resources to aid in rehabilitation
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Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists job titles:
- Probation officer
- Correctional counselor
- Deputy juvenile officer
- Juvenile probation officer
- Parole agent
- Adult probation officer
- Deputy probation officer
- Probation counselor
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Education, Certification and License Requirements
An entry-level probation officer or correctional treatment specialist generally needs a bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology or a related field. Some employers require a master’s degree in a related field for those who do not have previous relevant experience as a pretrial services officer, criminal investigator, substance abuse treatment officer or a correctional counselor.
A certification test may follow on-the-job training for probation officers and correctional treatment specialist with the state or federal government. A correctional treatment officer may also specialize in a particular type of casework after finishing training.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists may advance to a supervisory position based on education, experience and performance.
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists programs cover subjects such as:
- Juvenile justice
- Ethics and investigation methods
- Criminal law
- Criminal analysis
- Psychology
- Inmate privileges and rights
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Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Job Outlook
Forecast: 18 percent employment growth from 2010 to 2020 for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists .
The projected increase in correctional treatment specialist jobs results from mandatory sentencing guidelines that have increased prison populations. As alternatives to incarceration increase so does the need for parole officers and probation officers.
Many job openings occur as current federal probation officers, community supervision officers, pretrial service officers, parole officers and correctional counselors retire.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Salary
- 2011 median annual wage: $47,840
- 2011, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $64,810
- 2011, workers at the 25th percentile annual wage: $36,920
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Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Major Employers
- State government
- Facilities support services
- Local government
- Other residential care facilities
- Vocational rehabilitation services
Related Degrees
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Learn about an Online M.S. in Criminal Justice Degree
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Learn about an Online B.A. in Social Work Degree
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Learn about an Online Master of Social Work Degree
