Currently in the State of Kansas there are approximately 9,566 inmates incarcerated and 5,684 people on parole. The future of Kansas probation and parole officer jobs is expected to follow the predicted national trend over the next decade and increase by 18 percent. Currently the 730 people employed as probation and parole officers in Kansas make just under $19 an hour, or over $39,000 per year on average.
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Education for Parole and Probation Officer Careers in Kansas
Kansas requires applicants for parole and probation officer jobs to have a bachelor’s degree that includes at least 24 hours in the areas of social science, behavioral science, or criminal justice. Degrees in social work, psychology, or anything else are acceptable as long as candidates are able to meet the 24 credit-hour requirement. Depending on the agency, experience may be substituted for coursework.
Training for Parole and Probation Officers
There is no experience required for Kansas probation and parole officers. New hires will receive extensive on-the-job training in areas such as:
- Societal re-integration
- Concept of parole
- Available community resources
- Legal terminology and procedures
- Community resource agencies
- Counseling techniques
Additional Requirements
Additional requirements for how to become a probation or parole officer include the following:
- No DUI convictions in the past two years
- No felony or domestic violence convictions
- Be able to pass a background check, employment check, and drug test
- Have a driver’s license
- Be healthy enough to pass a physical exam
- Complete a one-year probationary period
Working with the Latest Technology
Parole and probation officers working in Kansas will use the modern advances in technology as tools to improve job effectiveness and efficiency. Officers can monitor parolees and probationers electronically thanks to global positioning satellites and techniques using cell tower triangulation. The state has also implemented a new electronic alert system that notifies officers when one of their clients is arrested, usually via email or text message. The previous arrest notification procedure involved probation and parole officers scanning daily lists of names, often resulting in missed violations.
Becoming a Probation and Parole Officer
Upon a candidate’s confirmation of meeting the basic requirements and training, he or she can contact the human resources office at the Kansas Department of Corrections Central Office in Topeka by email and ask to be sent an application for employment. The human resources office will also confirm the basic requirements are met and then email or mail the application. This is the beginning of the process for obtaining probation and parole officer careers, which start in Kansas at $16.56 an hour, or $34,444.80 per year.