Kansas is organized into 31 judicial districts that manage probation and parole services in one or more counties, depending on size. The 29th judicial district is responsible for managing adult parole and probation services in Kansas City and throughout Wyandotte County, including the suburban towns of Victory Hills, North Kansas City, Edwardsville and Argentine, among other smaller, more rural towns.
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In order to become a probation and parole officer in Wyandotte County, applicants must meet the required standards, complete an application, go through the hiring process and then complete basic training before becoming a full-time employee with the 29th judicial district.
Qualifications and Requirements
In order to obtain a probation and parole officer job in Wyandotte County, applicants must meet all basic requirements and qualifications beforehand. If an applicant does not meet these requirements, they will not be considered for the position. Requirements include the following:
- Must be a United States citizen
- Must be a resident of Kansas
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must have a valid drivers license
- Must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in corrections, counseling, psychology, sociology, criminology or social work, as well as a degree that is closely related to any of these fields, are given special consideration during the initial application process.
Applicants can bypass the degree preference if they have had at least two years of experience (during the last five years) in a field that involves interviewing people, working with people that have mental health or substance abuse issues, investigations, counseling criminals or past offenders or working with a social work referral organization.
Certification
If an applicant successfully completes the hiring process, they will then be required to complete certification before being hired on as a probation and parole officer in Wyandotte County and the 29th district. The Kansas Association of Court Services Officers certification is conferred through the association and requires the completion of an examination that proves familiarity with probation and parole officer duties, procedures and standards.
Probation and Parole Officer Training in Wyandotte County
After receiving the certification, probation and parole officers are then required to complete 2 ½ days of training while on-the-job. The training includes:
- How to initiate the correct arrest procedures, as probation and parole officers in Kansas have the authority to take violators into custody
- How to file reports,
- How to testify in court
- How to counsel offenders with substance abuse and mental health problems
Additional training may be required after the first year if probation procedures in the 29th judicial district are modified or if procedures are changed on the state level.