5 Steps to Becoming a Juvenile Probation Officer

<p><table border="0"> <tr><td><img src="/cimages/multimages/2/adobestock_517832478.jpeg" alt="Learn what it takes to become a juvenile probation officer." /></td></tr> </table> </p> <p>Working as a juvenile probation officer can be a rewarding, but sometimes difficult job. It requires working with young people who have often encountered difficult life circumstances. </p> <p>Because the work can be sensitive, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Juvenile_Probation_Officer_Career_Profile_Job_Outlook_and_Training_Requirements.html">juvenile probation officers</a> need to undergo education and training programs to help them do their jobs effectively. </p> <p>Below, we'll break down exactly <b>what a juvenile probation officer does and the five steps to become one</b>. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatDoesAJuvenileProbationOfficerDo">What Does a Juvenile Probation Officer Do?</h2> <p>When someone gets in trouble with the law, they may be put on probation. This option is offered as an alternative to incarceration. </p> <p>While on probation, the person on probation has to abide by certain rules, such as not being allowed to use firearms. Probation also has requirements, such as regularly reporting to a probation officer. </p> <p>A probation officer is the person responsible for ensuring that the person on probation is meeting the requirements and following the terms of their probation. </p> <p>Probation officers also help support the person on probation and provide access and information about social services. </p> <p><b>Job duties for a probation officer may include:</b> </p> <ul><li>administering drug tests to the person on probation </li><li>connecting a person on probation with any support services and resources they need </li><li>determining what needs a person on probation has and how to best meet those needs </li><li>guiding the person on probation through the probation process </li><li>monitoring the person on probation to ensure they are following the terms of their probation </li><li>performing risk assessments to determine if the person on probation poses a threat </li><li>writing reports and maintaining case files </li></ul><p>A juvenile probation officer works specifically with children under the age of 18 who are on probation. </p> <p>The duties for a juvenile probation officer are no different, but working with juveniles requires a certain level of understanding of this age group. </p> <p>To become a probation officer, you'll need to earn a degree and complete training. We'll break down the steps below. </p> <p>Please note: requirements vary among states. We've listed the general steps, but always check your state's requirements. </p> <h2 id="section---Step1CheckYourStateSRequirements">Step 1: Check Your State's Requirements</h2> <p>Probation officers are generally government employees, and the requirements to be a probation officer are set by the state. </p> <p>As a result, you'll need to check your state's requirements to determine what you need to do and in what order to become a probation officer. </p> <p>Some states require certification, while others require specific types of training. Knowing your state's requirements before you start will ensure you're on the right path. </p> <h2 id="section---Step2EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 2: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h2> <p>A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum degree required to become a probation officer. Bachelor's degree programs usually require 120 credits and take about four years. </p> <p>Many probation officers hold a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. <b>Other degree options for probation officers include:</b> </p> <ul><li>behavioral science </li><li>criminology </li><li>human services </li><li>psychology </li><li>social work </li><li>sociology </li></ul><p>Your state may have specific requirements for the type of bachelor's degree a probation officer must hold, so check before you start a program. </p> <h2 id="section---Step3BeginATrainingProgram">Step 3: Begin a Training Program</h2> <p>Once you've graduated with your bachelor's degree, you'll need to begin a probation officer training program. </p> <p>These programs may be offered by your state. Other states require employers to offer them to new employees. </p> <p>The amount of training you are required to receive varies between states as well. <b>Training often covers topics such as:</b> </p> <ul><li>case management </li><li>counseling </li><li>drug identification </li><li>firearms </li><li>first aid and CPR </li><li>juvenile law </li><li>legal liabilities </li><li>mental illness recognition </li><li>personal defense </li><li>suicide prevention </li></ul><p>This training is meant to give you everything you need to work as a probation officer. </p> <h2 id="section---Step4EarnCertification">Step 4: Earn Certification</h2> <p>Certification requirements vary greatly by state. Some states don't require certification at all, while others require it before training and others after training. </p> <p>To become certified, you'll need to pass an exam, often a Civil Service Exam. <b>The exam may cover topics such as:</b> </p> <ul><li>counseling </li><li>juvenile and family law </li><li>probation procedures </li><li>situational responses </li></ul><p>Again, certification requirements vary between states, so check to see what the requirements are for the state you plan to work in. </p> <h2 id="section---Step5FinishTraining">Step 5: Finish Training</h2> <p>In some states and for some employers, you are required to work as a trainee before working independently. </p> <p>This phase can last up to a year and often requires oversight from senior-level officers. This phase allows you to get hands-on experience and familiarize yourself with laws and procedures. </p> <p>Depending on your state, you may not have the chance to focus on juvenile cases specifically until you reach the trainee stage. </p> <p>You may be required to complete the trainee phase before your state will let you take the certification exam, so check your state requirements. </p> <h2 id="section---JuvenileProbationOfficerSalaryAndJobOutlook">Juvenile Probation Officer Salary and Job Outlook</h2> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Degree Field</b></td><td>Criminal justice, psychology, or behavioral sciences</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Other Requirements</b></td><td>State certification, training</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Annual Mean Salary (2023)*</b></td><td>$60,250</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Estimated Job Growth (2021-2031)*</b></td><td> 4%</td></tr> </table><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't provide information about juvenile probation officers specifically, but it does have information about probation officers in general. </p> <p>Probation officers have a median annual salary of $60,250, with a range of about $37,380 to $99,090. </p> <p>The BLS projects that the job outlook for probation officers will stay about the same between 2021 and 2031. </p> <h2 id="section---StartYourJuvenileProbationOfficerCareerPathToday">Start Your Juvenile Probation Officer Career Path Today</h2> <p>Juvenile probation officers have an important job in helping young people turn their lives around after a conviction. Becoming a juvenile probation officer requires education and training to do the job successfully. </p> <p>For help and resources to get you started, contact <i>Best Accredited Colleges</i> today.</p>