What Is the Salary of Parole Officers?
Parole officers serve an important function in the U.S. legal system. Often offenders are released from prison early, and in an effort to reduce recidivism, they are placed on parole. The parole officer makes sure the parolee is following the law and complying with the terms of his probation, be it maintaining employment or taking random drug tests. It is often a thankless job, but one that pays a reasonable salary depending on location.
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Duties
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If a convicted criminal is released from incarceration early, he is often paroled. Effectively, this means the offender is serving the rest of his sentence in the community under the supervision of the parole officer. Parole officers work closely with the parolee to ensure he is compliant with the terms of parole. This can include making sure the parolee takes random drug or alcohol tests, making sure the parolee appears at all required court dates, getting the parolee into counseling and making sure the parolee is employed. The parole officer also makes sure the parolee does not commit further violations of the law and has the power to return the parolee to prison if a violation does occur.
Powers
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In most jurisdictions parole officers have the same power as police officers. This means they can make arrests and conduct investigations. Parole officers are typically given a badge and a concealed weapon. Unlike uniformed police officers, parole officers are often dressed in business or casual attire.
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Educational Requirements
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Since parole officers are effectively police officers, the same requirements for employment must be met. Potential candidates must have a bachelor's degree, ideally in psychology, sociology, or criminal justice. It helps to have worked at least two to four years in the field before being considered. Parole officers typically start out their careers as police officers.
Other Hiring Requirements
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Candidates should have a clean criminal history and be free from drug or alcohol dependency. A candidate for a position as a parole officer will also have to meet certain height, weight and physical aptitude requirements. Once hired, the candidate will go through the same training regimen and certification as police officers.
Parole Officer Salary
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Luckily, parole officers are not required to do all of this for free. According to Salary.com, the median annual salary for a parole officer is $49,503. Like the salary for many jobs, this will vary throughout the nation. Salary.com reports that 25 percent of parole officers make less than $44,000, while 25 percent make more than $55,000. Like most law enforcement positions, it is not a spectacular salary, but it is a decent wage. Further, since parole officers are government employees, they are entitled to government benefits, such as health insurance and paid vacation. Federal parole officers start at $56,000 annually.
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