Parole Officer Training

Overview

Corrections, probation, and parole are the main duties of a parole officer, who supervise and monitor offenders who are out on parole. Parole officers work with individuals who have been released from prison before their scheduled date, by devising a life-plan for the parolees, helping them to adjust to life outside and avert any actions that jeopardize their parole. Parole officers plan their parolees' employment, housing, healthcare, education, drug screening, and other activities that help the parolee's rehabilitation and function in a community environment. They have to attend parole hearings and make recommendations based on their interviews and surveillance of parolees. Their job has a lot of risk because they deal with convicted paroles, therefore they will always carry a firearm with them. A parole officer is most often employed by the state department of corrections, state criminal justice department, juvenile corrections center, county, or a federal justice department.

Benefits

Federal parole officers earn close to $90,000 annually. Excelling in this position and gaining experience, while continuing your education, ensures a bright future. This is a relatively stable and high-paying job with a certain level of responsibilities and danger involved. There are also additional benefits available.

Costs

The associate's degree in corrections and homeland security costs around $20,000 for a two-year course. The cost of a one-year online degree ranges from $4,000 to $12,000, while the cost of a six-month diploma degree ranges from $2,500 to $5,000. The four-year bachelor's program, with concentration on corrections, homeland security and parole, costs around $40,000. There are also various certificate programs which are available at trade or business schools that cost around $10,000. Individual courses in psychology, sociology, and criminal procedures are also available, which are less expensive than the whole comprehensive degree.

Schools

Several schools in the United States offer parole officer degrees, either as an associate's or bachelor's degree. Some schools that offer this degree are Rasmussen College, Hesser College, University of Phoenix, and American Intercontinental University. The University of the Rockies offers a master's degree in criminal justice with a focus on corrections.

Testing & Preparation

The bachelor's degree requires you to have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. Online degrees do not have any set norms or requirements, but they require a good academic record. Further, the age range to begin this degree is 18 to 21 years, and it requires you to be an American citizen. The other qualifications required for this job is a demonstration of job stability, possession of a driver's license, and a license to carry a firearm. Since this is a federal or state job, you should have no criminal or felony record. Drug screening and psychological testing are mandatory tests that every prospective parole officer has to undergo.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance is provided by all universities in the form of scholarships, funds, loans, payment plans, and waivers. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps students apply for financial aid. Federal Stafford Loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, are available to students. Pell Grants and Graduate PLUS loans for the master's degrees are other forms of financial assistance.

Resources

You can get more information about the parole officer training courses from the Internet. Check out the following sites for more information:

• Legal Criminal Justice Schools
• Criminal Justice Schools
• All Criminal Justice Schools