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A person with a criminal justice degree may choose to follow a career as a probation officer, parole officer, or pretrial service officer. In order to work as a correctional treatment specialist, most States require a criminal justice degree or a degree in social work. Some also require proof of previous experience or a masters degree in an area such a psychology, social work, or criminal justice. Before gaining employment as a correctional treatment specialist, most employers also require passing an oral, written, physical, and psychological examination. Most also must complete a training program provided by the State government or the Federal Government. In some cases, a certification test is also required. Age is also a factor when considering employment as a correctional treatment specialist. Most agencies have a minimum age requirement of 21. In addition, the Federal Government often requires applications to be 37 or younger. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony generally are not eligible for employment. Job Description A probation officer, who is also referred to as a community supervision officer in some States, is a person who oversees individuals who have been put on probation. A correctional treatment specialist, on the other hand, is a case manager who counsels offenders and creates plans to rehabilitate them. The correctional treatment specialist works with the offender after he or she has been released from prison or taken off of parole. Pretrial service officers and parole officers often perform the same duties as probation officers, except they work with individuals who have been released from prison. Conversely, a probation officer works with someone who has been placed on probation instead of being sent to prison. Some states combine both of these duties into one position. A pretrial service officer conducts investigations before a suspects trial in order to determine if he or she should be released before the trial occurs. The pretrial officer is also responsible for supervising the individual if he or she is released before the trial takes place. Probation officers occasionally take on this role as well. Salary and Job Outlook According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for correctional treatment specialists are expected to grow as fast at the average occupation through the year 2014. Many of the openings will be created by those who retire and competition for these openings is not fierce. This is because the job tends to be stressful and contain heavy workloads, while the earnings are not substantial. There is a potential for an increased demand for correctional treatment specialists as prison budgetary concerns increase and a greater emphasis is placed on rehabilitation. The number of job openings, however, is based on the amount of funding provided by the government. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the annual median income for correctional treatment specialists in May 2004 was $39,600. Those working for the State government earned $39,810, while those working for the local government earned $40,560. Those working in urban areas tended to earn the highest income. |
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