Michigan’s probation department, which operates through the Michigan Department of Corrections, Field Operations Administration (FOA), has been in existence since 1913. The Michigan Department of Corrections reports that, on average, more than 55,000 individuals are under the supervision of MDOC every year.
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Attaining Probation and Parole Officer Careers in Michigan through Education
Probation and parole officers in Michigan are often referred to as field agents. Individuals interested in learning how to become a probation or parole officer in Michigan must attain a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas of study:
- Counseling and Guidance
- Sociology
- Social Work Administration
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Correctional Administration
- Education Psychology
- Family Relations
- Human Services
- Theology
Candidates can also meet the department’s minimum requirements by possessing a bachelor’s degree in any major, provided they also have one year of experience in corrections.
Although there are no experience requirements for entry-level (Level 9) probation and parole officers in Michigan, individuals applying for Level 10 positions must possess at least one year of professional experience working with adult offenders, and Level 11 positions require at least two years of professional experience working with adult offenders.
Applying for Michigan Probation and Parole Officer Jobs
Individuals applying for Michigan probation and parole officer jobs must provide copies of their official college transcripts with their application.
Individuals without a valid driver’s license, and individuals convicted of a felony are not eligible for probation or parole officer positions in Michigan.
All applications for Michigan probation and parole officer positions must be submitted through NEOGOV.
Probation and Parole Officer Training Requirements
All new probation and parole officers must complete Field Agent New Employee training (commonly referred to as Program F), which includes three phases of training:
- Phase 1: Initial training period
- Phase 2: 360 hours of on-the-job training (completed on-site at the officer’s work site)
- Phase 3: Computer-based training courses and classroom courses, which may include the following topics:
- Criminal justice sentencing
- Interview skills
- Interstate compact for adults
- Probation process
- Probation violation process
- Substance abuse
- Supervision fees
- Community resources
- Community residential programs
- Supervision standards/classification
- Technical rule violation centers
All probation and parole officers in Michigan are also required to complete annual, in-service trianing as reslated to their departmental duties.