In Bangor, Maine, probation and parole officerss operate under the jurisdiction of the Maine Department of Corrections Adult Community Corrections Division. Region 3 of the Community Corrections Division is headquartered in Bangor where many of the state’s probation officer jobs can be found.
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As of May 2013, there were 20 probation and parole officers in Region 3, covering the Bangor area and the following counties:
- Penobscot
- Knox
- Ellsworth
- Hancock
- Waldo
- Washington
- Brewer
- Aroostook
- Piscataquis
- St. John Valley
- Presque Isle
- Mount Desert Island
Education and Training Needed to Become a Probation Officer in Bangor
Candidates who wish to become probation and parole officers in Bangor should major in an applicable area, such as behavioral science, social science or criminal justice. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for probation officer jobs in Bangor.
Before applying for these jobs, candidates should also have six months of related experience in areas such as case management, counseling, probation and/or parole or law enforcement. Volunteer work experience is acceptable. Applicable combinations of experience and education may also be acceptable.
Each applicant should also have a Class C state driver’s license prior to applying.
The Maine Department of Corrections website lists available probation and parole officer jobs in Bangor and elsewhere in Maine, and also provides explanations of how to apply online or by mail. Supplemental questions must be answered fully. Successful candidates may be contacted for an interview, and will be expected to bring complete resumes and a list of references. After that, a background and criminal history check, drug test and psychological exam will be performed before any hiring decisions are made.
If hired, new probation and parole officers in Bangor will be considered new-hires for the first six months of employment. New Bangor-based probation and parole officers will complete 240 hours of training, including qualifying in the use firearms during their first year of employment.
Probation and parole officers in Bangor are also required to take 40 hours of continuing education training yearly. They must also re-qualify to continue to use firearms on the job.
Serving as a Probation and Parole Officer in Bangor
As of January 2012, the Maine Department of Corrections reported that there were 1888 felons on probation in Region 3. The crimes for which they had been convicted included, (in order from most to least common):
- Drugs
- Sex offenses
- Arson
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Animal abuse
- Explosives
Bangor probation and parole officer jobs involve working with these types of offenders on a daily basis. Information on the names and addresses of all Maine felons and ex-convicts on probation, including those in the Bangor area, may be accessed by the general public through a new state database.