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How to Become a Parole Officer
Parole officers help to maintain public safety, monitor and guide parolees, and actively take part in over one hundred case hearings at a time, making their job crucial to the judicial process and that of the corrections system. If this sounds like a job you may be interested in, this article will explain to you how to become a parole officer.
Requirements to Become a Parole Officer
Being a parole officer first begins with a certain background of traits. You must be at least 20 years of age and have no criminal background. Background investigations and credit checks must be clean, so take these things into consideration. As a part of your training, you will need to pass physical and personality tests, written and oral, with multiple choice and essay questions that also evaluate your ability in reading comprehension.
The education required to be a parole officer starts with a high school diploma, and continues on to either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, most often the latter. These degrees are in criminal justice, corrections, social work, or even psychology. Some parole officer positions require a year of experience in school counseling, social work, or even teaching. The higher your degree, the higher your pay and the better your opportunities for leadership roles or supervisor positions. Many parole officers have master’s degrees in criminal justice, which are now conveniently available in online courses.
After completing your formal education, the next important step in how to become a parole officer is training. These training experiences vary based on location and whether they are at a state or federal level. They typically last four to six weeks and are a requirement in order to obtain the required licensing. This licensing is also determined by passing a certification exam that covers the previously mentioned oral, physical, and personality-based questionsIf you are to work in a higher position, or wish to be a parole officer on the federal level, two years of experience at the state level or lower is required, meaning that there are opportunities to move up and make use of experience gained in early years.
Your Career as a Parole Officer
After finishing your degree and completing the required training, there is one more step you must know about in order to understand how to become a parole officer. This step is one of the most important: field training. This comes after you’ve been given a position as a parole officer with a state or the federal government. Field training usually lasts for a year and is considered a “probationary period” in which you are constantly supervised. At the end of this training, you will finally be unsupervised and independent, perfectly prepared to begin work as a full-fledged parole officer.
The parole officer career is one that is fundamental to the function of the corrections and judicial system. You will maintain public safety, help to rehabilitate released prisoners, and work to keep parolees out of the prison system.. The Educational path and experience necessary to be a successful parole officer is not easy, but is well worth the effort. With continued experience and a higher level of education, you can earn more and have opportunities for advancement. Check out some of the top online colleges for more information on how to become a parole officer!
