As of March 2013 there were 256 people on probation and parole in the city of Rutland. Probation and parole officers (PPOs) are key members of the community who direct offenders on how to become rehabilitated members of the community, holding them accountable to their terms of parole and probation while at the same time giving them an opportunity to become productive members of society. PPOs supervise parolees on their conditions of early release, and enforce the terms of probation for those receiving such adjudication.
Sponsored School(s)
Education Requirements for a Rutland Career in Probation and Parole
There are two career paths for those interested in learning how to become probation and parole officers in Rutland, Vermont. Usually candidates begin by first working as correctional officers for a few years to gain experience before applying for PPO jobs. The State of Vermont requires applicants for these positions to have at least a high school diploma or GED and two years of military service, full-time work, or college credits.
Candidates with previous experience in probation or parole may be eligible to apply directly for these jobs in Rutland. The Vermont Department of Corrections prefers applicants to have a bachelor’s degree with experience and major coursework in a human services-related field, such as psychology, criminal justice, or social work. Acceptable substitutions for this are:
- Four years of experience as a law enforcement officer
- Four years of experience working full-time with clients in a human services occupation, plus a high school diploma or GED
- One or two years of college may be substituted for an equal number of years of experience in the above fields
All candidates can monitor the availability of correction or probation and parole officer positions on Vermont’s jobs website. When either position becomes available, applicants must first create an online resume and account with Vermont’s human resource department.
Training to Become a Probation and Parole Officer in Rutland
If candidates are hired as correctional officers they will begin with an eight-week training course that includes:
- An initial week of correctional officer observation and procedure review at a correctional facility
- Five weeks of academy training
- 80 hours of supervised on-the-job training in a correctional facility
If a candidate is hired directly as a probation and parole officer, he or she may receive additional training in the following fields, depending on experience:
- Intake screening and offender risk assessment
- Psychological techniques of persuasion and motivation
- Legal procedures, courtroom etiquette, and preparation of court documents and reports
- Community resource referral options
- Arrest and detention techniques