Probation and parole officers in Vermont go by the title “Corrections Service Specialists.” Vermont Corrections Service Specialists work under the supervision of the Vermont Department of Corrections. These corrections service specialists may find jobs in corrections facilities or in the field. It’s when doing fieldwork that corrections service specialists perform the duties traditionally associated with probation and parole officers.
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There are 11 probation and parole, or field, offices throughout Vermont, located in the following areas:
- Springfield
- St. Johnsbury
- St. Albans
- Rutland
- Newport
- Morrisville
- Hartford
- Burlington
- Brattleboro
- Bennington
- Barre
Persons working in a probation/parole capacity in corrections service specialist careers in Vermont may work out of any of these offices.
Experience and Education Required to Become a Corrections Service Specialist Officer in Vermont
There are a few different options of education, experience or a combination of the two that an applicant for corrections service specialist jobs in Vermont can use to fulfill the Department of Corrections’ requirement. Any of the following options can be used:
- Have a bachelor’s degree (any major) and 18 months of experience managing and planning human services cases
- Have one year of experience as a corrections service specialist trainee
- Have a high school diploma/GED and four years working in human services, and one year of managing and planning human service cases
- Have a master’s degree in casework or counseling with a supervised field placement and no experience
Applying to Become a Corrections Service Specialist in Vermont
Available corrections service specialist jobs in Vermont will be posted at the Department of Human Resources website. To apply, candidates who meet the requirements should fill out this online job application. Note that a thorough criminal background check will be conducted and that any adverse findings may mean disqualification from the position.
Training for Corrections Service Specialists in Vermont
Once hired, applicants can only become a correctional service specialist in Vermont through training. This will consist of five weeks and be held at the Vermont Correctional Academy in Waterbury. Class topics include legal issues in corrections, professional ethics, medical and mental health, the Americans with Disabilities Act, suicide prevention and advanced communications. After completing this training, new corrections service specialists will receive two weeks of training on the job.
Vermont Corrections Service Specialist Job Growth Projections
According to the Vermont Department of Labor, in 2010 there were 242 corrections service specialists employed in Vermont. This number is expected to grow to 282 by 2020, with an increase of 1.5 percent per year in Vermont corrections service specialist jobs. Employment trends are favorable for those pursuing corrections service specialist careers in Vermont over the next decade.