Just east of New York City, Nassau County is located on Long Island and is the home of major cities Hicksville, Long Beach, and Freeport. The New York State Division of Parole monitors and supervises offenders following their release from state and county detention facilities. There are two parole offices found within county limits; one at Nassau/Hempstead and another in Central Long Island.
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The Role of Nassau County’s Parole Officers
Sex Offender Supervision – Among the most important responsibilities of parole officers is the supervision of sex offenders. Parole officers assigned to perform sex offender supervision duties receive specialized training that includes operation of electronic monitoring and GPS tracking. Using a containment methodology, parole officers utilize scheduled and random visits to administer drug and alcohol tests as well as polygraph examinations. Sex offenders are prohibited from using the internet in most cases and must enroll in treatment programs for managing improper impulses.
The Parole Violation Unit – The Parole Violation Unit is a specialized team of parole officers that serve a parolee with a parole violation warrant and transport them to a nearby detention facility for incarceration until a revocation hearing is conducted. Nassau County parole officers have made considerable headway in limiting the number of days that violators must wait until a hearing is scheduled.
How to Become a Parole Officer in Nassau County, New York
New recruits may join the New York State Division of Parole through one of two careers:
Parole Officer Trainee jobs require that recruits possess a law degree or a bachelor’s degree in one of the following subjects:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social work
- Criminal justice
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation counseling
- American studies
Parole Officer I job candidates must possess at least a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in one of the following professions:
- Correctional officer
- Social worker
- Law enforcement officer
- Human welfare official
It is important to note that while these jobs only stipulate a bachelor’s degree, many of the most competitive candidates will have post-graduate credentials including MSW, MBA, or PhD.
Applicants for either position in Nassau County must also possess these minimum qualifications in order to be eligible to become parole officer:
- U.S. citizenship
- Resident of New York
- At least 21 years old
- Possession of a valid New York driver’s license
- Successful completion of a civil service exam
- Ability to complete the basic parole officer training program
- Ability to carry and use a firearm
The civil service exams for parole officers are usually offered every four years, but may be longer due to lack of open positions.
Parole Officer Training Requirements in Nassau County
Upon hiring, new officers must report to the Senator Hugh T. Farley Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy to complete basic training. This eight-week program includes instruction in:
- Ethics
- Community reentry principles
- Multicultural awareness
- Penal law
- Criminal procedures
- Case work
- Firearms training
In order to graduate, trainees must pass a final exam and qualify with a firearm. Following academy training, new officers must complete a two week Field Training Program under the supervision of senior officers. After the first year, officers must re-qualify with firearms and obtain at least 40 hours of training annually.