A probation officer's duties include evaluating offenders to determine treatment, providing resources to aid rehabilitation, discussing and arranging treatment programs, supervising offenders and monitoring their progress, and writing reports. The job requires a bachelor's degree in fields like social work, criminal justice, or psychology. While employment opportunities are expected to be excellent due to growth and replacements needed, the occupation faces challenges from relatively low earnings, heavy workloads, and high stress. Median annual wages in 2008 were $45,910 with most probation officers earning between $35,990 and $60,430.

1. Final Project:
Probation Officer
DAVID CLEARE-WEST LA COLLEGE

2. Job Description

3. Job Duties
Evaluate offenders to determine the best course of
treatment
Provide offenders with resources to aid in
rehabilitation
Discuss treatment options with offenders
Arrange treatment programs
Supervise offenders and monitor their progress
Conduct meetings with offenders as well as their
family and friends
Writes reports on the progress of offenders

4. Required Skills

5. Probation Officer Employment
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists held about 103,400
jobs in 2008. Most jobs are in State or local governments. Depending on the
State, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists may be
employed solely by State or local government, or they are employed at both
levels. Jobs are more plentiful in urban areas than in rural ones. In the Federal
Government, probation officers are employed by the U.S. courts, and
correctional treatment specialists are employed by the U.S. Department of
Justice's Bureau of Prisons.

6. Working Environment

7. Education &
Training
Requirements
A bachelor's degree in social
work, criminal justice, psychology, or a
related field is usually required. Some
employers require a master's degree in
a related field for candidates who do
not have previous related work
experience.

8. Career Tips
Most probation officers and correctional treatment
specialists work as trainees or on a probationary period for
up to a year before being offered a permanent position.
A typical agency has several levels of probation and
parole officers and correctional treatment specialists, as
well as supervisors. A graduate degree, such as a master’s
degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology, may
be helpful for advancement.

9. Job Outlook
JOB PROSPECTS. IN ADDITION TO OPENINGS DUE TO GROWTH, MANY OPENINGS WILL BE
CREATED BY REPLACEMENT NEEDS, ESPECIALLY OPENINGS DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER
OF THESE WORKERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO RETIRE. THIS OCCUPATION IS NOT
ATTRACTIVE TO SOME POTENTIAL ENTRANTS DUE TO RELATIVELY LOW EARNINGS, HEAVY
WORKLOADS, AND HIGH STRESS. FOR THESE REASONS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE EXCELLENT.

10. Expected Earnings Based on
Experience

11. Favorite Day of
The week: Payday
Median annual wages of probation officers and
correctional treatment specialists in May 2008
were $45,910. The middle 50 percent earned
between $35,990 and $60,430. The lowest 10
percent earned less than $29,490, and the
highest 10 percent earned more than $78,210. In
May 2008, median annual wages for probation
officers and correctional treatment specialists
employed in State government were $46,580;
those employed in local government earned
$46,420. Higher wages tend to be found in urban
areas.

12. Founder & First
Official Member

13. Work Cited