New Hampshire has a relatively small number of juveniles who have entered the juvenile justice system as offenders, and this population has steadily grown smaller in recent years. In 2008, the total number of open juvenile cases was 4,644, with 3,378 delinquency cases, 883 cases of Children in Need of Services (CHINS), 303 in diversionary programs and 80 others.
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By 2012, the total number of juvenile cases had shrunk to 3,389, with 2,880 delinquency cases, 325 CHINS, 106 in diversion, and 76 others. New Hampshire also compares favorably with the rest of the country; this state has a placement rate of 125 in 100,000 juveniles compared to the national average of 279 per 100,000.
Need for Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in Manchester, New Hampshire
Although the reported rate of juvenile offenses has declined in recent years, the New Hampshire juvenile justice system requires intensive improvement. The juvenile recidivism rate in New Hampshire is a surprising 51.7 percent, which is significantly higher than surrounding states like Massachusetts, which has a recidivism rate of 29 percent. The high rate of recidivism among New Hampshire juveniles is attributable, at least in part, to the reduced funding for CHINS services which has limited the juvenile justice system’s ability to respond to early signs of anti-social behavior.
Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers (JPPO) are responsible for supervising juveniles on probation as well as those who have completed their detention at a juvenile facility. JPPOs working out of the Manchester field office typically supervise Children in Need of Services. Children who are between the ages of six and 16, habitually run away from their residence, are truant from school and commit acts that may be classified as felonies or misdemeanors may be designated as CHINS. JPPOs may utilize a variety of guidance, discipline, supervision, counseling, treatment or rehabilitation to improve the lives of these needy clients.
Requirements to Become a Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer in Manchester,
New Hampshire
Juvenile probation and parole officer jobs in Manchester can be found with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Children, Youth and Families. The minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 courses or 36 credit hours in one or more of these areas:
- Social work
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Cultural anthropology
- Behavioral science
- Substance abuse
- Human services
Applicants should also possess a valid New Hampshire driver’s license and have transportation available to travel throughout the state. Supervisor, management and executive positions require at least a master’s degree and/or at least six years of experience as a JPPO I, II, III, or IV.
Training to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in New Hampshire
All new hires will participate in a two week orientation and training program within the first year of employment to learn how to become correctional officers in New Hampshire. After the first year, JPPOs must complete at least 40 hours of additional training annually.