A June 2012 report using FBI crime statistics notes that the incidence of violent crimes has risen in Bridgeport, Connecticut over the past few years. From 2010 to 2011, the total number of violent crimes here rose by 35. Forcible rape increased by 59 during the same time period, representing an increase of 103 percent in just one year. These numbers represent a two percent increase in the total number of reported violent crimes in the city. Thankfully, the dedicated men and women that serve as parole officers in Bridgeport are hard at work to protect the community while giving offenders a chance at rehabilitation.
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Parole officers in Bridgeport fall under the jurisdiction of the Fairfield Judicial District. The Connecticut Department of Correction Parole and Community Services Division maintains offices across the state. The parole office in Bridgeport serves areas within this judicial district including Monroe, Fairfield, Easton, Trumbull and Stratford.
What it Takes to Become a Parole Officer in Bridgeport
Degree Requirement – Those interested in finding out to become parole officers in Bridgeport can meet minimum prerequisites through education or experience. The Department of Correction mandates that all applicants have a bachelor’s degree in a social services field or have four years of work experience in:
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation
- Criminal justice
- Social work
- Law enforcement
- Probation or parole
Hiring Process – When Bridgeport parole officer jobs are available, they will be posted at the Department of Correction Employment Opportunities website. Links to apply to open jobs are also offered here. Qualified individuals may be contacted by Human Resources to schedule an interview and proceed with the hiring process.
Training – All newly hired parole officers in Bridgeport must complete training during their first year on the job. New hire training for parole officers consists of 400 hours (10 weeks) of coursework taken at the Maloney Center for Training and Staff Development in Cheshire.
Bridgeport parole officers must complete 40 hours of continuing education coursework each year throughout their careers.
Social Programs Available to Parolees in Bridgeport
Bridgeport parole officer jobs may involve working with many different programs offered through the Bridgeport parole field office. These include:
- Residential programs for substance abuse (such as the APT Foundation RSD Program)
- Work release (like CT Renaissance Maple Street Program)
- Temporary housing (the Family ReEntry Enterprise House program)
- Employment services (Career Resources ReEntry Works Program)
- Social services (Families in Crisis SR Bridgeport Program)
- Support services (Council of Churches CoOp Center)
- Behavioral health (Liberation Programs Stamford Outpatient Program)
These programs are all designed to help ex-convicts on parole re-integrate more easily into the Bridgeport community.