Probation Officer Salary

Probation officers provide a very effective function in society.  Also known as community supervision officers and correctional treatment specialists, the probation officer monitor that activities and actions of those who are place on probation by the legal system.  Probation is a type of punishment that is given out instead of or in conjunction with jail time and fines where the offender must adhere to certain rules and standards to keep from serving a harsher punishment.  The probation officer is the person who monitors their actions, meets with them regularly, and makes sure they are keeping their actions within the rules of their probation.  Should the offender violate their probation, they are responsible for reporting it so they can be punished appropriately. 

Meetings with offenders happen either at the probation officers office or the officer may go and visit the offender and their family in their homes.  Different state regulations allow for several different types of actions.  Probation officers are commonly employed by local, state, and federal governments. Essentially, every form and level of the legal system must have a probation officer position. 

While the general requirements to become a probation officer vary by the state, there are some standard qualification that are commonly expected.  Most are expected to have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, or a highly similar field.  For positions that offer either a higher probation officers salary or a higher ranking position many require a Master's degree in one of those fields or one that is closely related to it or relevant professional experience.

Other standard requirements include;

• Physically fit and emotionally stable.
• Between the ages of 21 and 37.
• Clean criminal history.
• Knowledge of legal processes.

Luckily the job outlook is very good for this type of position.  The average probation officer salary is between $31,500 and $52,100.  The median salary is around $39,500.  Those who worked for local governments in an urban area were commonly making a higher rate of pay than those working for other government bodies.

Probation officers perform an essential function in the legal process.  Without them monitoring the activities of convicted criminals who are allowed into public, two scenarios arise;  either those who are on probation could repeat the crimes they were convicted of or they would have to be put into already overcrowded prisons instead of being given a chance at redemption.