A dramatic increase in juvenile crime has been an issue of grave concern in East Baton Rouge Parish during the past several years. In June 2009 alone, there were 41 arrests of juveniles for major crimes like murder, rape, and armed robbery in the parish. Intensive efforts have been underway to both prosecute delinquent youths and to try and stem juvenile delinquency in its early stages before it progresses to more serious crimes.
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In 2010, 4,042 juveniles were prosecuted in the Juvenile Court of East Baton Rouge Parish. Juvenile probation officers are involved in several notable programs in this parish to help juveniles become law-abiding members of society.
Educational Requirements to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in East Baton Rouge Parish
The minimum requirements to become a juvenile probation officer in East Baton Rouge Parish include having a bachelor’s degree. A substitution of six years of work experience full-time in any field may be permitted.
Candidates who lack a bachelor’s degree may combine college credit with work experience to substitute for the degree as follows:
- 30-59 hours = 1 year of experience
- 60-89 hours = 2 years of experience
- 90-119 hours = 3 years of experience
- 120+ hours = 4 years of experience
- Must also have two years of work experience
All college credit being applied to become a juvenile probation officer must be from an accredited college or university.
Special Requirements to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in East
Baton Rouge Parish
Additional requirements to obtain jobs as juvenile probation officers in East Baton Rouge Parish include the following:
- No felony or misdemeanor domestic violence convictions
- Having a driver’s license valid in Louisiana
- Being willing and able to handle and carry firearms
Training to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in East Baton Rouge
Applicants who have been accepted learn how to become juvenile probation officers through completing the curriculum of the Corrections Juvenile Services-Agent. They take part in 120 hours of training their first year to become peace officers. This training includes becoming proficient in the use of firearms.
Once they are established in their careers, juvenile probation officers must take part in 40 hours of ongoing training a year. They must also recertify their ability to use firearms. These officers are encouraged to attend professional workshops or conferences to constantly be improving their skills.
Specialized Juvenile Probation Services in East Baton Rouge Parish
Intensive Supervision Program Section (ISP) – This program is the last chance of the juvenile offender for probation. The juveniles are intensively supervised under conditions that have been established by Juvenile Court. These juvenile probation officers oversee a specialized caseload, working with the chronic non-violent and the most serious violent offenders.
Operation Eiger – Named after the mountain of the same name that is very difficult to climb, this program targets high-risk youths with a history of offenses that are violent or involve weapons, drugs, or sex offenses. This program is staffed during the day by juvenile probation officers that specialize in cases of the most serious violent, chronic offenders. The night staff comprises a three-person team of officers from the police, juvenile probation, and adult probation and parole.
Operation Eiger was started in the late 1990s. Almost immediately, program officers noticed a drop in the recidivism rate of the participants. These types of offenders would be predicted to have had a high rate of reoffending.
The Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU) – This program is designed to target high-risk youths with violent offenses. The juvenile probation officers in this program specialize in intervention techniques. They staff the program from 2 PM – 11 PM and visit the juveniles during this time-frame.
The goals are both to monitor compliance to the conditions of the juveniles’ probation and to pro-actively prevent and deter the criminal behavior that frequently takes place during these hours.