The circuit probation and parole office in Daytona Beach is responsible for supervising the probation and parole services provided throughout four counties in the state: Flagler, Putnam, St, Johns and Volusia. As of June 2012, there were approximately 7,052 offenders on probation or parole in the region, which is one of the highest supervised offender rates in Florida.
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On the other side of the coin, the region has some of the lowest incarceration rates in the state:
- Flagler County has 127 people incarcerated
- Putnam County has 328 people incarcerated
- St. Johns County has 532 people incarcerated
- Volusia (where Daytona Beach is located) has 1,362 people incarcerated
In total, the region represents about 5-percent of the total prison population in Florida.
There are six probation offices located in the Daytona Beach circuit, including two in Daytona Beach proper, one in DeLand, one in St, Augustine, an office in Bunnell and an office in Palatka. As the county seat of Volusia, Daytona Beach serves as the hub for probation services in the area and is home to the intake center for the circuit region.
Minimum Qualifications, Application Process and Training
When seeking a career as Daytona Beach probation and parole officer, applicants must first review the basic requirements and qualifications for the position. The most important qualification states that all applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, as recognized by the state of Florida.
Next, an application must be filled out and sent to the main office in Daytona Beach. If an applicant is deemed fit for the job, they will be asked to complete the Civil Service Examination with the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission academy, which operates under the Florida State Department of Law Enforcement.
Training for a probation and Parole officer job in Daytona Beach involves completing a 16-week training schedule, which includes about 640 hours of training, or approximately 40 hours a week. Upon completion of the training, a recruit will be placed at one of the offices and will be a full-time employee with the Daytona Beach circuit probation office.
Working as a Probation and Parole Officer in Daytona Beach, Florida
Probation and parole officers in Daytona Beach are considered peace officers, and thus must complete the same basic levels of training as most law enforcement officials in Florida. Probation and parole officers are allowed to make arrests, as long as those being arrested are offenders under the supervision of that officer. Also, probation and parole officers in Daytona Beach are authorized to carry firearms electively, although it is not a mandatory part of the job.
The following are some of the main responsibilities for probation and parole officers in the area:
- Supervise the transition of offenders from prison to life outside of jail
- Monitoring compliance with individual probation conditions as set by a judge
- Refer offenders to resources that will aid their transition
- Assessing the risks and needs of each offender under their supervision
- Offering basic counseling services (motivation, self-improvement, coaching, etc.)
- Providing information on drug rehab, employment services, mental health institutions and other resources meant to rehabilitate offenders