The Los Angeles County Probation Department is the largest probation department in the world, covering 88 cities and more than 500 towns and other census designated areas.
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Established in 1903, when California first enacted probation laws, the Los Angeles County Probation Department has become a national leader in the field of corrections. The department employs more than 5,800 staff members who serve in more than 50 separate locations, including 19 field offices and 19 branch offices located in LA County court buildings. The 220 adult deputy probation officers serving LA County handle a total caseload of approximately 62,000 probationers, which works out to roughly 282 supervised offenders per officer.
Qualification for a Career as Deputy Probation Officer in Los Angeles
Applicants for deputy probation officer I (field) jobs in LA County must meet the following requirements:
- U.S. citizen
- At least 21 years of age
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- No felony convictions
- Valid driver’s license
Requirements for deputy probation officer II (field) jobs in LA County include all of the above listed requirements plus:
- Two years experience as a deputy probation officer I OR
- Three years experience as a law enforcement peace officer
Requirements for deputy probation officer II (treatment/counseling) jobs in LA County:
- U.S. citizen over 21 years of age
- Valid driver’s license
- No felony convictions
- Master’s degree in social work, clinical counseling, or marriage and family therapy
- California license as a social worker, clinical psychologist, or marriage and family therapist
Hiring Process for a Job as Deputy Probation Officer in Los Angeles
Only online applications are accepted. Information about open positions and the proper forms are found at the Los Angeles County probation department website under “Employment Opportunities.” Applications that do not meet the above requirements are discarded.
Accepted applicants will be expected to successfully complete an oral interview, medical exam, psychological test and physical agility test (if required by position). All new hires, upon becoming probation officers in LA County, must also complete a 200-hour California Board of Corrections certified probation officer training course within the first year of employment.
Monthly Salaries of Probation Officers in Los Angeles
- Deputy Probation Officer I – $3825.64 to $4749.36
- Deputy Probation Officer II (field) – $4520.73 to $6259.91
- Deputy Probation Officer II (treatment/counseling)-$4520.74 to $6259.92
What Probation Officers in Los Angeles County Do
The department’s stated mission is to “enhance public safety, ensure victim’s rights and effect positive probationer behavioral change.” The pre-trial services division completes roughly 88,095 eligibility assessments every year while the investigative division conducts approximately 72,000 annual investigations. The variety of investigations carried out by deputy probation officers of the Adult Field Services Bureau include:
- Early disposition
- Pre-plea
- Probation & Sentence
- Post-sentence
- Bench warrant pick-up