Covering part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, DeKalb County has the third-largest population in Metro Atlanta and the State of Georgi and one of the busiest probation systems in the state. Adult probation officers supervise a community-based probation program for the DeKalb County State Court, performing such duties as collecting fines and fees and child support, making sure individuals on probation comply with court orders and, at times, helping to develop alternative sentencing programs for the courts.
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Currently, DeKalb County probation officers supervise approximately 6,796 active street probationers. In Georgia, the average length of probation is seven years.
Qualifications for a DeKalb County Probation Officer Career
It’s important to keep in mind that in DeKalb County, a probation officer is considered a Georgia Peace Officer and must meet Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council standards.
Minimum standards:
- 21 years of age
- U.S. citizenship
- Valid Georgia driver’s license
- Education standards:
- Minimum: Standard two-year college degree. (Individuals who were a circuit probation supervisor on or before July 1, 1972 do not have to meet the education stipulation.) Additionally, two years of work experience in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
- Preferred: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in criminal justice, sociology, law enforcement, psychology, social science, or a related field and at least one year of professional experience.
- Must attain and maintain firearms certification
- Pass a background check
- Pass drug testing
- WorkKeys Assessment testing requirements: Take and earn a Silver level score or higher on the WorkKeys Assessment (formerly known as Work Ready Assessment).
How to Apply for a Probation Officer Job in DeKalb County, Georgia
Watch for open position announcements on the Georgia Department of Corrections Jobs vacancy website. Note that the WorkKeys Assessment test is a pre-screening test that should be taken before submitting an application.
- Applicants must pass the WorkKeys Assessment test with a “Silver” or higher score. For details, review probation officer testing requirements.
- Take the WorkKeys Assessment test. To locate a test site, job candidates can visit WorkKeys Test Site Locator and enter a zip code. Of the WorkKeys assessment test, applicants must take “Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Locating Information.”
- Submit an application. (Note: applicants must submit their WorkKeys Assessment score, along with the application.)
- Interview
- Upon an offer of employment, applicants must pass:
- Department of Corrections physical fitness test
- The POST entrance exam. (Depending on the scores, applicants may submit an ACT or SAT score instead of taking the POST entrance exam.)
Training Requirements for New Recruits
Upon being hired, new employees will attend and graduate from the eight-week Basic Probation/Parole Officer Training Course (BPPOTC) and receive certification from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) in order to effectively become a probation officer.
Coursework and training will cover areas such as:
- Criminal and Georgia law
- Supervision and interview techniques
- Intervention strategies
- Policies and procedures