Lawrence, Massachusetts, and the surrounding area are part of the Region 6 parole office within the Massachusetts Board of Parole. Parole officers in the Region 6 parole office monitored 435 parolees, as of December 2010, which totaled 13 percent of the total number of parolees in the Commonwealth during this time. During the same period, 8 parole officers worked out of the Region 6 parole office, all of whom had an average caseload of 54 parolees.
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Lawrence, Massachusetts and the neighboring town of Salem are the county seats of Essex County. Lawrence had a population of about 76,000 as of the 2010 census. It is located along the Merrimack River, making it part of the Merrimack Valley. It is located near Methuen, Andover, and North Andover.
Minimum Requirements for Attaining Lawrence, Massachusetts Parole Officer Jobs
Candidates interested in pursuing Lawrence parole officer jobs must possess a valid driver’s license, and they must be able to obtain a permit to carry firearms. Further, all candidates must be able to successfully pass a background investigation and polygraph examination.
The minimum requirement for those interested in parole officer careers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is 5 years of experience in parole work, probation work, psychology, criminal justice, vocational counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or social work.
However, candidates who have attained a degree in law enforcement, sociology, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, criminal justice, social work, or human services may be able to use their education experience to satisfy some or all of the professional experience requirements, as follows:
- Associate’s degree or higher: 2 years of education = 6 months of experience
- Master’s degree: 2 years of education = 1 year of experience
- Doctorate degree: 1 year of education = 1 year of experience
Individuals who want to learn how to become a parole officer in Lawrence will find that training requirements may differ based on the type of position. For example, training and certification may be required in one or more of the following areas:
- Pepper Spray Instructors
- Pepper Spray
- Handgun Retention
- Firearms Instructors
- Firearms
- Defensive Tactics Instruction
Parole Officer Careers in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Parole officers in Massachusetts may work out of one of the Commonwealth’s 8 regional offices, state or county correctional institutions, or the central administration office in Natick. Further, they may work through one of the following units:
- Transitional Services Unit: Parole officers within the transitional services unit are responsible for compiling data for the Parole Board regarding release, revocation, and rescission cases and for preparing inmates for release into parole by organizing home and work plans and for referring inmates to specific community programs that meet their needs.
- Field Services Unit: Parole officers in the field services unit are tasked with supervising parolees out of one of the Commonwealth’s 8 regional parole centers and ensuring they continue to meet all conditions of their parole. Specialized re-entry parole officers also work with parolees to help them obtain housing, employment, and other basic needs.
The Massachusetts Parole Board currently has about 200, full-time staff members.