Forensic Science Degrees Graduates Of Distance Learning Course Programs Choose Professions The Benefit Society

Usually after a criminal has done their time in prison, they are still kept under close observation. The people who keep an eye on these former inmates are parole officers and they are considered as essential a part of our criminal justice system as the police.

Also called community supervision officers, their job is to keep a steady eye on those on parole. They are often confused with probation officers, whose responsibilities are slightly different. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a probation officer only deals with those who were found guilty of a crime but not incarcerated. Parole officers deal primarily with former prisoners. It’s very common for people to do both, depending on the state they live in.

At their essence, parole officers are responsible for providing former prisoners a smooth transition into regular society. To do this they will visit their charges’ homes, their families, place of work, etc. They will also connect the prisoners with various community organizations who assist in the parolee’s reformation. Among a parole officer’s most important skills are written and oral communications, as his reports will determine the former inmate’s future.

One thing to always consider is that a parole officer is an employee of either a state or federal correction system. This means their jobs are directly affected by the state of the economy. For instance, one thing many states are now doing is releasing prisoners earlier than their full sentences due to a lack of funding. This, in turn, means a parole officer’s workload is increased proportionately.

For the moment though, it seems the general public doesn’t want their local governments to do that. They want to keep prisoners in prison and, according to the Bureau, also are demanding more of our tax dollars be spent on prisons, police and parole officers. Because of this, the federal agency anticipates a 20% increase in positions between 2008 and 2018.

Those interested in becoming parole officers will need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum. About the only way around this is if they have a certain level of experience in a comparable field, such as being a police officer. If not, they should consult with the career counselor of a brick and mortar or online college with a strong background in the humanities, social sciences, psychology or criminal justice.

What one gets paid depends a lot on where one lives. Some states pay much, much better than others. The Bureau reports the median wage at $45,000. From there, in can range anywhere from $30,000 to as much as $78,000. Such matters as insurance, retirement and other perks are also dependent on where one works.

Now it’s undeniable that the current state of the nation’s economy is having its effect on governmental salaries. At the same time, with the projection in the field of criminal justice, those engaging in distance learning degree programs will be moving into a career where expansion is expected. There’s real value in the criminal justice master degree and when received from an accredited institution, the graduate can expect their own long career.