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Probation officers have the task of helping individuals who have come into the wrong type of contact with the law get their acts together before they end up in prison.
This is often a thankless job, yet it can be gratifying at other times.
This is especially true when the probation officer has a chance to make a difference in the life of someone.
Is being a probation officer the correct career for you?
Read on to find out.
Pros of Being a Probation Officer
1. Flexible Work Locations
Not all probation officers have to go into the office daily.
Some work from home, others are more often found out and about on the streets.
In addition, some probation officers work in courthouses, others in offices set up strictly for probation, and still others work in police stations.
You may even have the opportunity to work in a community center or other environment where probation work is needed.
When entering the field and looking for a job opening, ask yourself what environment you would like most, and even the age group of the clients you most prefer, adults or children.
2. Chance to Help Others
Being a probation officer allows you to help a person turn their life around.
Adults who have come into contact with the law in the wrong way are allowed to change.
As a probation officer, you can assess what sent them down the wrong path and help provide positive reinforcement.
It is even greater to be able to help children who may have just had their first encounter with the law.
Often, this is a cry for help, and you, as a probation officer, have the chance to step in and help before the situation escalates.
3. Job Security
This is a position that will be needed for years to come.
People have gotten into trouble with the law since the beginning of time, and it doesn’t appear that it will stop soon.
In addition, as prisons get fuller, the legal system looks for ways to ease the strain and keep people out of them.
It has also been proven that being given the chance to avoid prison works better towards rehabilitation than locking someone up.
That’s what makes the need for probation officers to remain steady.
4. Only Need a Bachelor’s Degree
While some law enforcement careers require advanced degrees, most probation officers have only a Bachelor’s degree.
In addition, you aren’t required to go through extensive physical training or even psychological testing.
In a world where advanced degrees are so often necessary, it is refreshing to know that you could be only four years away from a career.
5. Valuable to Society
As a probation officer, you are offering a valuable service to society.
Many people on probation would fall through the cracks and end up in worse places if it were not for a probation officer caring enough to spend time redirecting them.
Not only would the people who broke the law fall through the cracks, but society in general would be in greater danger as the criminals’ behavior escalated.
You would be in a position to break that cycle.
6. Good Benefits
Probation officers work for the city, state, or federal government, so they get good benefits.
You can expect to get life and health insurance, a retirement plan, paid sick and personal days, and paid vacations.
In some cases, there is also family leave.
Vacation time is also something you can count on.
Many of the benefits, such as vacation time and paid days off, increase with time of service.
7. Daily Activity Varies
You will never be bored with having to do the same thing day after day.
Each day in the job of a probation officer is new.
One day you may be doing paperwork, another going to court with a client, and still another doing home visits or visiting places for potential job placements.
Very often, your plans for the day may suddenly change.
If you like variety, this job will fill that need.
Cons of Being a Probation Officer
1. Heavy Caseloads
Most probation officers have very heavy caseloads.
There are often so many people in larger areas who are on probation that there are not enough probation officers to go around.
This makes it difficult to be as effective as many probation officers would like to be, and sometimes the heavy caseloads cause problems with keeping up with everyone the probation officer is responsible for.
2. Risky Situations
Probation officers often must do home visits.
This may include having to go into high-crime areas of the city, especially when their position is in higher population areas.
This puts the probation officer at risk of things like being mugged, coming into contact with drugs, and possibly even being caught in the crossfire with gang activity.
Many probation officers go the extra step and get their license to carry a firearm for such situations.
3. Unpredictable Schedule
With each day being different, this can be a good thing against boredom, but it can also be frustrating.
Very often, a planned schedule of activities for the day can quickly be thrown away as situations change and events require a change of plans.
This kind of upheaval can be problematic for people who like to have their day go by in an orderly manner.
4. Possible Burnout
When dealing with people on an emotional level day after day, the psychological toll it takes on the probation officer can be devastating.
Burnout is something that occurs in many people in helping professions, and probation is one of them.
The probation officer must be able to find some type of work-life balance to counteract the effects of the emotional drain they experience daily.
5. Physical Risks
Going into a dangerous situation is just one way in which the probation officer may face physical risks.
Many people on probation have anger control issues, and the probation officer, because they are there to set rules and see that they are followed, is sometimes the target of an anger outburst.
There is also the risk of someone on drugs losing control and getting physical.
The lifestyle itself can cause physical risks to health because of a lack of good sleep, constant emotional upheaval, and unhealthy eating habits.
6. Low Pay
Despite all the work involved in being a probation officer, the pay is often low, especially when first entering the field. Initial positions may see you making less than $44,000 a year.
The median income, however, is $64,520 as of May 2024.
This is not a job where you will make a great deal of money, but if you stick with it, you can make enough to comfortably raise a family.
The benefits are often what attract candidates to the job, not the pay.
If you stick it out, however, and work in higher-paying areas, you may find yourself making a higher salary, close to $95,430.
7. A Lot of Paperwork
Probation officers must keep very detailed records of each of their clients.
These records include things like personal information, court proceedings, drug testing results, and a lot more.
Each client will have different needs and different work that needs to be kept track of.
Some will have community service hours, some will attend job interviews, and others will have other conditions they must meet.
All of this needs to be carefully noted by the probation officer.
Considering how busy the days of the probation officer are, it is often necessary to do the paperwork in the evenings, on your own time.
Pros and Cons of Being a Probation Officer – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Probation Officer | Cons of Being a Probation Officer |
|---|---|
| 1. Flexible Work Locations | 1. Heavy Caseloads |
| 2. Chance to Help Others | 2. Risky Situations |
| 3. Job Security | 3. Unpredictable Schedule |
| 4. Only Need a Bachelor's Degree | 4. Possible Burnout |
| 5. Valuable to Society | 5. Physical Risks |
| 6. Good Benefits | 6. Low Pay |
| 7. Daily Activity Varies | 7. A Lot of Paperwork |
Should You Become a Probation Officer?
Being the force behind someone turning their life around and succeeding can be very rewarding.
It can also be frustrating to see many others fail first.
While this job has a lot of paperwork, there are also many hours spent visiting dangerous areas, especially in larger cities.
The pay is minimal for the amount of emotional and physical stress, but the ability to help others and provide an essential service to society often makes people feel it is all worth it.
If you place more emphasis on the good you can do than on the money you make, this is a career worth exploring.
If you want to learn more, be sure to read our How to Become a Probation Officer Career Guide.
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