The New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth, and Families conducts juvenile probation and parole services out of the Southern District Office located in Nashua. Officers designated as Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers (JPPO) who provide supervision to youthful offenders under the age of 18 are responsible for these services.
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These offenders may include juveniles sentenced to probation, parole, or Children in Need of Services (CHINS). CHINS are juveniles who habitually commit offenses but have been remanded into the supervision of JPPOs instead of progressing through the juvenile justice system.
Juvenile Drug Use Fuels Teen Arrests in Nashua, New Hampshire
New Hampshire, like most states suffers from an epidemic of alcohol and drug use among juveniles, which has contributed to an elevated crime rate. A recent survey by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention found that New Hampshire ranked in the top ten among states with juveniles abusing drugs and requiring treatment. This study also found that marijuana use among New Hampshire high school students was far above the national average. Marijuana use in New Hampshire ranged from 31 to 50 percent among teens, while it was only 20 to 40 percent nationally. This study also found that the trend among New Hampshire teens was increasing, while nationally drug use was falling.
This prevalent use of drugs has fueled a rise in juvenile arrests and drug charges. While New Hampshire ranks 43rd among U.S. states in violent juvenile crime and 42nd in juvenile property crimes, it ranks 9th for juvenile drug arrests. From 1996 to 2002, New Hampshire experienced a decline in total delinquency charges, except for drug charges which grew by 60 percent.
How to Become a Correctional Officer in Nashua, New Hampshire
Bachelor’s Degree Option – Juvenile probation and parole officer jobs in Nashua can be found through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Applicants must possess a valid New Hampshire driver’s license, access to transportation, and a bachelor’s degree with at least 36 credit hours in at least one of these subjects:
- Criminology
- Social psychology
- Cultural anthropology
- Social work
- Human services
- Substance abuse
- Behavioral science
Graduate Degree Option – The NHDHHS prefers applicants who have a master’s degree and at least one year of experience in juvenile supervision. A master’s degree is required to obtain a career as a supervisor or manager.
The skills required to succeed in this job include:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Well-developed verbal and written communication
- Ability to manage a diverse and numerous set of cases
- Coordination with court officials, teachers, employers, juveniles and their families
- Recognition of drug or alcohol use
Mandatory Training – Newly hired officers must complete 180 hours of training followed by three months of probationary duty under the supervision of a senior JPPO, during which time they effectively learn how to become a juvenile probation officer in Nashua. After the initial year of service, juvenile probation and parole officers must receive at least 40 hours of training annually.