Author’s Note
Joseph P. Dupre, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Everest University Online
Contact Email: Duprejoseph7@gmail.com
Becoming a Probation Officer How long have you known what you wanted to become when you grew up? Some people have had their minds made up about either what they wanted to become or study for a long time. I myself have just recently discovered my true calling in life; becoming a Probation Officer. For years, I have been trying to make my mind up about the career I wanted to pursue because I wanted to make sure I put my time into a field that I would be comfortable in and also do well in. The reason I believe that I would make a good Probation Officer is because I experienced a great deal of adversity in my life, and also grew up in an area that allowed me to gain great insight for a job like this. Probation Officers also make a good living and make a difference in their communities. Probation officers must have to have strong communication skills, because they will be working with offenders, judges, victims, their families, and many specialists. They must be prepared to handle high-stress situations, and must also be highly organized. Probation officers often write reports. That being said, they have to write a lot of reports and written documents (CriminalJusticeUSA.com, 2013).
Probation Officers are in charge of monitoring convicted felons who are released from prison on probation or parole. They have a lot of duties that include: seeking treatment options, helping them find jobs, and monitoring their progress. They document the progress and conduct meetings to discuss different options for their probationers. Probation Officers act as mentors and guidance counselors to felons who are trying to get back on their