Pocatello, Idaho, is part of the Sixth Judicial District of Idaho. In addition to Pocatello, which is Bannock County’s largest city and county seat, District 6 includes the counties of: Bear Lake, Oneida, Franklin, and Power. Pocatello is also home to the main office for District 6 Probation and Parole services.
District 6 supervised 880 offenders in March 2013, 742 of which were under probation supervision, and 138 of which were under parole supervision.
Probation and Parole Officer Careers in Pocatello, Idaho: Minimum Requirements
Probation and parole officers in Pocatello are required to have a valid driver’s license and some knowledge of how to identify behavioral or social science resources for clients; computer operations; and writing detailed reports.
Because probation and parole officers in Pocatello are certified peace officers, job candidates must pass a written exam and a physical fitness test. The physical fitness exam consists of push-ups, sit-ups, a 300-meter sprint, and a 1.5-mile run.
All candidates submit to a background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening to qualify for probation and parole officer jobs in Pocatello.
Training Requirements for Probation and Parole Officer Jobs in Pocatello, Idaho
New hires in Pocatello learn how to become probation and parole officers through peace officer training, which is facilitated by the Felony Probation and Parole Academy at the Peace Officer Standards and Training facility. Upon completion of Academy training, officers are deemed POST-certified peace officers in the State of Idaho.
All of Idaho’s probation and parole officers must receive annual training in such areas as safety protocols, arrest techniques, firearms, and policy reviews to keep their certification active.
Community Problem-Solving Courts in Pocatello
The Bureau of Probation and Parole works with a number of problem-solving courts throughout the state, including mental health courts and drug courts. Specific probation and parole officers are assigned to work in the State’s 10 mental health courts and the 21 drug courts to ensure that offenders meet the conditions of their probation or parole.