As the most populated metropolitan area in Indiana, the Marion County probation office employs more probation officers and has more offenders on probation than any other area in the state. The main probation office in Marion County is located in Indianapolis, and there are two satellite offices located in the suburban areas of the county. In total, the Marion County probation office employe 265 officers and administrative staff, which work in both adult and juvenile probation areas.
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The state of Indiana changed their statewide probation model in 2005 in order to increase the efficiency of probation services and enhance the quality of the services provided. The new probation model focuses on a decentralized, community-based approach to probation, which is much more progressive than the probation tactics employed by most states in the country.
Probation officers in Marion County are not considered peace officers, which means they are not allowed to make arrests and are not permitted to carry a firearm while on duty- although some counties do have the option of carrying a firearm.
Experience and Education Requirements
Probation officer jobs in Marion County require applicants to meet a certain requirements and qualifications in order to be considered for the position. These requirements include the following:
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Must be a United States citizen
- Must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
Application and Examinations
When considering how to become a probation officer, prospective officers are required to complete an application and the move through the hiring process. The hiring process in Marion County includes an examination in order to receive probation officer certification. The examination includes a multiple choice section, a true/ false section, a short answer written section, a definitions section and a long-form essay section. The Marion County probation office offers testing every Monday.
In order to pass the probation officer exam, an applicant must have a score of at least 70-percent.
Training to Become a Probation Officer in Marion County
In Marion County, probation officer training includes an orientation program, which applicants must attend within one year of being hired- although it is recommended that new officers attend within the first six months of employment with the department. The orientation is three days long and is held at the main probation office building located in downtown Indianapolis.
The training program is meant to provide information of juvenile and adult probation practices, including how to conduct investigations, how to interview and supervise offenders and how to work within the community-based model practiced in Marion County. Once training is complete, recruits can move on to begin their probation officer career in Marion County.