Probation officer Essay

Being a Probation Officer can be interesting and challenging at the same time. You can make a positive impact on one’s life. A Probation Officer’s main role is to make sure that those released into his care are properly rehabilitated and obey to the terms of their probation. The officer also educates those released on probation on what they can and can’t do during the probation period â€Å"Probation and parole can be very cost efficient. In 2010, Larry J. Siegel wrote a report stating that the U. S. spends about twenty five thousand dollars meanwhile probation only spends two thousand. The government saves twenty three thousand dollars by keeping inmates out of prison and keeps prisons from overcrowding. Dangerous criminals should be kept in prison instead of being let out and keeping minor offenders in. Probation helps offenders recover by allowing them to enter society with a different mindset. Probation helps offenders recover by allowing them to do such things as preserve employment, gain support and help from their loved ones and once again become a productive citizen. That can’t be done in jail. Most prisoners have drug addictions. Keeping them in doesn’t give them the help that they should be receiving. The offender being out and put on probation allows him to recover himself by taking part in a rehabilitation center. Cons: there is the issue of community safety. Many offenders present a risk to community safety, even if it’s because the person persists in the risky behaviors associated with alcohol or drug abuse. Setting any offender free poses somewhat of a risk, however slight. The courts, judges, defense and prosecuting attorneys and probation personnel weigh these risks and balance them with the best interests of the probationer and victim. Usually, probation personnel monitor high-risk offenders closely through home arrest or electronic monitoring. Then there is the problem of victim concerns. Victims vary widely as to their perspective and feelings regarding probation for their offenders. In some cases, they may quickly forgive the individual and even build a relationship with them. In other situations, they may petition the courts for harsh penalties. Probation allows the courts to monitor the defendant’s activities in the community while he works and repays any restitution that he or she owes his victims. Some victims, however, may care more about his punishment than reimbursement Many offenders need minimal rehabilitation in order to become productive members of society. Completing substance abuse treatment or community service hours can motivate offenders toward compliance with probation requirements. They can stay in the community; maintain family ties and work to contribute to their family. If these same offenders are sent to prison, they might become hardened and learn further criminal behavior, when they could have easily just remained supervised in society. Probation personnel can further monitor compliance with court terms and conditions. One of the primary reasons that traditional probation hasn’t been successful in rehabilitating offenders is much too often probationers are completely unsupervised. An offender on probation could simply fill out a one page report of their work activities and submit this to their probation officer by mail. Offenders that are part of traditional probation programs have a recidivism rate of 65%. That means only 35% of probationers don’t commit new offenses. Offenders are accommodated into halfway houses. This is where offenders have to follow strict rules like curfew. Counsellors and psychiatrists are on call 24 hours a day to help clients with adjusting to outside life and coping with problems if they occur. Probation officers have a large number of offenders and they have a difficult time supervising them closely. This is because there are not enough probation officers to supervise offenders properly. Probation officers have offenders mail in a form weekly or monthly and there is a checklist that an offender has to follow and answer, employment and any law infractions. Pros: Cons our stance we are on the pro side of both probation and parole, as we believe they can be greatly beneficial to both the community and the offenders whom are placed in these programs. Granted, not all cases are a success, but we believe that the criminal justice system would be a far worse place without probation and parole†. (Larry J. Siegel) A Probation Officer plays a key role in changing one’s ways that may not be suitable for the public’s view. The public sees these offenders as no good and thinks they should be removed from our communities and placed in confinement. Knowingly this may resolve the issue of one’s misbehavior for a short length of time but there are many more out their committing these same crimes. So what possibly should be done other than confining these offenders  for long or short periods of time, and in an eight by ten cell? Well, a rehabilitation program set up when the offenders is released. This rehabilitation program may also be enforced upon release from jail or prison depending on the offender’s circumstances. Rehabilitation comes in many different forms such as, drug and alcohol classes. A person committing a crime that involved the use of drugs and or alcohol would be required to attend these classes upon release from jail, for a period of thirty days, sessions or the judge’s discretion. There are such classes that revolve around anger management classes; this would assist an offender in learning how to deal with anger issues and present those ways to relieve one’s stress, anxiety, or just the urge to combat. Rehabilitation also involves community service. Such offenders would be required to sign up at a local agency (Caltrans), and on a daily basis be required to show up at a set time and clean-up the sides of freeways, underpasses, parks, and communities. This would be a way to assist an offender in being accepted back into his or her community. Becoming a Probation Officer, as of 1995 virtually every state has a Probation Officer program in place for young and old law offenders. The duties of Probation Officers vary from state to state. A Probation Officer will meet with the â€Å"offender† on a regular basis and will provide guidance to the offender that will help the offender make better decisions in life. In the hope the offender will conform to the laws. Other duties can include field work such as locating an offender who’s failed to report as agreed and also testifying in a court regarding the probation violation(s). A life as a Probation Officer will be interesting and challenging. Probation Officers must have a keen interest in both criminal justice enforcement and helping young and old law offenders. Being a Probation Officer requires performing several duties and putting in a great amount of time and energy. This career provides a unique opportunity to intervene in the lives of criminal offenders and provide an opportunity for reform. The career comes with safety risks, but many current officers relish the opportunity to make a difference in not only one’s life but a community as a whole. When it comes to the benefits of a Probation Officers career, one may think the benefits are gracious but in fact a probation officers pay can be quite low, about forty five thousand dollars a year on average. Not considerably bad for a starting salary and if just coming into the work force. These benefits may or may not increase over time but other benefits include medical, dental, vision and 401k plans. These other benefits can be seen as a great deal as well because one does need a career that will help them in a time of need. Other benefits one may see are the fact of being able to deal with various situations and scenarios on a day to day basis not to mention the thrill and risks waiting every day. Many want to know what it takes to become a probation officer. Well, you must be at least twenty years of age, have at least a bachelor’s degree on up to a master’s degree, depending on what probation role you are seeking. Some physical fitness also plays a role in this position; you want to be physically active with exercises, walking, jogging etc. This will assure the apprehension of an offender in the event he or she tries to run or fight. A background check will be conducted, you must pass. If all goes well and you are accepted for an interview, you will meet with the interviewing party and answer some question and also this is the time in which you also may ask questions that you seek answers to. You must pass the interview process sometimes more than one interview will be conducted. After acceptance you will have to drug test and pass. And on toward the career you have been seeking awaits you. Life as a probation officer can be stressful. This can affect a person’s life at work and home. The position requires dedication and time. You must be dedicated to the laws set forth by the people and willing to spend the time it takes to assure one’s attempt to being rehabilitated. A probation officer acts as a liaison between the courts orders to the offender and respond on the offenders behalf when the offender has either completed his or her court orders or the offender violates one or all the orders set forth by the court. These determinations will determine whether the offender is released from probation or determine that the offender cannot be rehabilitated at the time and needs to spend the rest of their time in incarceration. Anyone can become a probation officer so as long they want to help society’s not so best, become better and get rehabilitated. This position requires education, physical demand, and stress no doubt. There are some qualifications that must be met but the outcome is great. The benefits are awesome and most wouldn’t be disappointed. With this all being said you may now know whether or not a probation officer is the job for you. If Probation sounds like something you may be interested in, get information and ask questions. There is plenty more information to seek out. The career of a probation officer is not only rewarding and challenging, but comes with great benefits. If helping people is the answer to your future this position can be a great place to start. There are risks and opportunity that come with changing someone’s life whether they are young or old. Many probation officers relish the opportunity to change the lives of law offenders.