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Parole Officer
A parole officer is not a probation officer, although they share many of the same types of responsibility. Probation officers monitor those who are on probation in lieu of spending time in jail. Parole officers monitor the location and actions of people who have been released from jail or prison early.
Both work in the public sector, but while the probation officer usually works for a county, the other usually works for the state.
Education
A parole officer must usually have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited offline or online college. The degree might be in criminal justice, police science, social work, psychology or a related field.
If you are interested in this profession, having both declared major and minor in coordinated areas can enhance career stability, since job availability depends quite a lot on public funding: The more qualified you are, the less likely your position will be a front-line target for reduction.
Fortunately, you can easily earn the four-year degree required for an entry level position by taking advantage of the flexible scheduling offered by top online universities, whether you are entering college for the first time or are heading back to college to get another or finish getting your degree.
Prospects
As prisons become even more overcrowded, states are passing early release legislation to improve conditions behind bars. Because more inmates will no longer be incarcerated for the expected duration, more parole officers are expected to be needed. However, the civil service position does depend on public funding. If insufficient funds are not allotted for additional positions, each officer will be required to manage a growing number of parolees, adding significant stress to a difficult job.
The demand for officers is expected to rise by 19 percent, slightly more than average.
A parole officer earns roughly what a probation officer may. The national average wage for this job description is approximately $46,000 per year with half earning between $35,990 and $60,430 annually.
Once you gain experience, you may advance within the field; post-graduate degrees in a related field improve not only your expertise but also your credentials and qualifications. Fortunately, you can obtain an online masters degree while you work full-time and gaining experience as a parole officer.
