Job Responsibilities
My job entails me supervisor any where from 90 to 125
probationers. My responsibilities are endless. For of all, I
protect society from criminals. Secondly, I protect my clients
from hurting themselves. Third and most important, I am the ears
and eyes of the court. To be more specific, I do home visits,
submit drug test, testify in court (when needed), sign
probationers up when granted probation, prepare reports, counsel
probationers and their family and I am a link between the
probationers and community resources.
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Job Requirements
I can only expound upon my caseload. I have a current caseload
of 105 probationers/clients. They range from misdemeanors to
class A felons. Each probationer has his or her own story or
take on the story. My job is very demanding. I deal with a
state of irony everyday---I have to remember I am in this
position to protect society, but at the same time I want to help
my client turn there life around. And its hard because most of
the time children are involved. I violate a mom or dad the 4 or
5 children are always affected indirectly.
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Uppers
The best part of my job is watching a probationer as they change there life. To
see the ones who realize they made a mistake, get a job and succeed in life. Its
almost like watching your own son hit a homerun or make good grades.
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Downers
The worst part of my job is violating someone who I knew was
trying so hard. They were on the right track for 3 years and end
up in the wrong place at the wrong time. They pick up new
charges and I have to violate because of the new charges. Now
that person is faced with serving the origional time.
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Lifestyle
Well, there isnt much of a lifestyle. The starting salary is approximately
$23,000.00. The job is very demanding so you have to like what youre doing and
really care about people. Everyday dress is business casual and court
appearances warrants suits. And because of a demanding workload there is a large
turnover among probation officers.
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Compensation
As I mentioned earlier, the starting salary is approximately
$23,000.00. There are no stock options or bonuses. There is a
401-k in which the state matches $30 a month and the benifits are
okay (health insurance/dental insurance).
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Advice to Jobseekers
Probation officers do not make a lot of money, but it is an
exciting position. Everyday you have a chance to help someone in
need. You have to care about people in general and remember
everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone get caught. I think
this occupation will never go away. The prison system is over-
crowded and growing so there will always be a judge awarding
probation to the less offender. I dont see the salary being a
upgraded to fast.
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