Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Paroles has been diligently working to increase the level of parole success across the Peach State. From a 1992 high of over 41,000 offenders in the parole system, the level has since dropped to about 24,000 as of 2013. That number has also decreased over the past years in Bibb County, which comprises its own parole district in the State Board’s Central Area.
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By a recent count there were 130 people with jobs in the parole field in Macon alone, making an average yearly wage of $34,680.
Education and Experience for Bibb County Parole Careers
Those interested in learning how to become a Bibb County parole officer should be aware of the minimum qualifications for the position. All parole officers in the State of Georgia are required to have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in criminal justice. However any field of study suffices, including psychology, social work, and communications. Candidates are also preferred to have a master’s degree in criminal justice, be able to speak Asian dialects or Spanish, and/or have at least a year of prior law enforcement experience. Other minimum requirements include:
- Being a U.S. citizen
- No felony convictions
- Earning a passing score on one of the following tests:
- COMPASS
- ASSET
- CPE
- SAT
- ACT
- Criminal Justice Test: This should have been previously taken and passed by certified law enforcement officials in Georgia
- Georgia State driver’s license
- At least 21 years old, and registered with the Selective Service if male between the ages of 21-25
Application Process
The obvious first step in the application process is to apply. However this is not always as easy as it sounds; candidates must first wait until there is a vacancy for parole officer jobs in Bibb County. Position openings are posted on the Georgia State employment webpage as well as local sources in and around the city of Macon. Candidates will need to fill out a state application and submit it to the human resources office as instructed on the job announcement. Care should be taken to remember to include certified or official copies of a candidate’s test scores.
Successful applicants will be notified and have the opportunity to continue in the application process, which includes an interview, thorough background check, medical examination, psychological evaluation, and drug test.
Georgia State Training Academy
New Bibb County parole officers will be trained at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in the city of Forsyth. Officers will attend the eight-week Basic Probation/Parole Officer Training Course where they will learn all the basic skills needed to prepare them for successful careers, including:
- Investigation procedures and supervision techniques
- Use of force, self defense, and arrest procedures
- Computer programs and record keeping
- Effective guidance of the offender to their terms of parole
- Transporting parolees to and from court hearings
Officers will also be trained in firearms, and will need to re-qualify with a semi-automatic Glock handgun every six months. They will also need to complete 20 hours of continued training annually after the first year of employment.