My husband is interested in becoming a probation officer. Although he is smart, he is not the "school" type... he is not good at studying or test taking. He has a real talent for the corrections/law enforcement line of work, and is good with people. He's easy to talk to and gets along with many types of people. He has the qualities to be a very good probation officer, and he would really like to work with juveniles.

My question is, what course of study should he take? What is the minimum education requirements for being a probation officer? From what I've read, a Bachelors is desired, in sociology, criminal justice, social sciences, etc. So out of the desired majors, what would be the best course to take for someone like him... someone who is smart and can do the job, but lacks good study and test taking skills? Are there other routes to take to become a probation officer, other than traditional college (or at least maybe a combination of some college and some experience in corrections)? If so, what courses would be most beneficial, both for his duties as an officer and for obtaining the job?

Thanks for any help!

There is no short cut to studying and exams, this line of work will require at the very minimum a batchelor's degree or a masters degree. Below is a brief outline of what is expected:


Probation officers are responsible for supervising people that have been sentenced to probation. Probation officers meet with their parolee's either at their homes, place of work, or rehab facilities and ensure that they are staying out of trouble and following the rules of their probation.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Steps
1
Step One
Check with the state in which you are seeking employment as a probation officer. The requirements may vary from state to state.
2
Step Two
Earn a degree in criminal justice or social work. Most states require a minimum of a bachelor's degree however, some may require a master's degree.
3
Step Three
Complete a series of exams. These usually begin with a written exam followed by an oral exam. The next exam is a psychological exam and lastly a physical exam. Candidates should be in good physical health just as is required of many police officers.
4
Step Four
Finish a training program to become a probation officer. Most states require that you complete a State or Federal government sponsored program and then pass a certification test.
5
Step Five
Demonstrate computer and typing skills. Preparing reports and documentation is an important part of the position as a probation officer.

Thank you for the response. I understand that it will be hard work and he'll just have to buckle down and do it. Just wondering, of the possible majors, which one would be best for my husband? We looked at the course requirements and I thought Sociology seemed like it may be a good way to go. It seemed to have the broadest class and concentration options.

Hello chiquita:

If he's not the studying type, then I don't think he should study. I don't think it would work anyway. Do you?

There are other routes to his goal by way of "on the job" training. Certainly, he can get work as a corrections officer. There are all sorts of opportunities for him beyond that work within the system.

That way, he has INCOME, whereas in college, he has OUTGO.

excon

Thanks, excon. He is a CO right now, and he really likes it. He wants to advance in corrections and be involved more in helping people on the outside. He truly enjoys his job, but would like to do more. He can advance within his job now, but not really to the level he wants to, and he'd really rather help people who are trying to make it in society rather than being a CO that can only help people in a very limited way. And, like I said, he's very smart, just not really a good student. I know he can do the job as a probation officer, it would just be a matter of getting through the schooling.

Is there another job similar to a probation officer that he may want to consider? He wants to work in corrections in a position that lets him help people get and stay on the right track, help them find schooling, job training, drug/alcohol counseling etc.

Hello again, chiquita:

I don't know the system your husband works in, and I don't know how well it's managed.

I understand that he doesn't want to continue as a CO (we call 'em hacks), but in a well managed system, opportunities for a sideways transfer for job openings are offered to employees first. There may be jobs like case manager or other administrative positions available to him that will help document his resume`, since its going to be lacking a formal education.

Of course, if HIS system doesn't offer ANY of these type opportunities, then he may need to seek employment elsewhere.

There are really only two ways into the kind of career your husband is looking for. Certainly the standard path is higher education. I only suggest the alternative if it's available. If not, then it isn't.

excon

First does he really understand a PO is a desk job, with tons of paperwork, filling out dozens of forms on each person every day, entering data into a computer, that is about what their day is.

Also each area has thiere own unwritten requirements, so he should perhaps go in and talk to a couple of PO and see what they recommend.
To get in, most likely he will need a BS degree, the exact degree preferred will vary by area. In GA when I was interviewing for a PO position before, they wanted someone with a social work background, not a correctional officer background, so a degree in social work.
But I do understand some areas PO is under corrections and often hire officers as a promotion.

Also some prisons have correctional couselors that is a promotion from a officer