The Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) oversees probation and parole cases through its Division of Field Services. 181 employees of this division were overseeing the cases of the 6,097 people that had been sentenced to probation or parole in Wyoming as of a December 2012 report by the WDOC. One of the 25 offices throughout the state is located in Laramie.
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Probation/parole officers in Laramie oversee the cases of residents who have been sentenced to probation or parole for crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the state of Wyoming. They help these individuals atone for their crime by performing such things as community service and/or paying fines.
A major component of probation and parole services in Wyoming is helping the offenders become integrated back into society. The first step in this process is assessing the risk that an offender poses to society. This determines the level of supervision that is provided to the offender.
How to Become a Probation/Parole Officer in Laramie
Education Requirements – Citizens of Wyoming who aspire to become a probation/parole officer need to have a bachelor’s degree to apply for such jobs.
Basic Requirements – Additional requirements include having a valid driver’s license and being a citizen of the U.S. Applicants will have to provide copies of documents proving that, along with their college transcripts.
Peace Officer Training – New WDOC employees learn how to become probation/parole officers in Laramie through Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) in Rawlins. This takes place at the WDOC Training Academy and involves learning safety measures such as control tactics.
How Probation and Parole Officers Make Laramie a Better Community
Some offenders receive unsupervised probation, while others are visited by their probation/parole officers on a reqular basis, at intervals that vary depending on the level of perceived risk. Offenders more likely to reoffend are placed in the Intensive Supervision Program. They may be visited as frequently as eight times each month. Lower risk offenders can be monitored less frequently at three month intervals.
Most offenders benefit from taking part in programs designed to help them integrate back into society. This can range from cognitive training to help change criminal behavior to treatment for mental health problems or substance abuse. Services frequently have an educational component, such as obtaining a GED or obtaining job training.
The efforts of probation/parole officers in Laramie play a significant role in reducing the rate at which offenders return to crime. Data provided to the PEW Foundation on the rates of recidivism indicated that Wyoming had the lowest rate in the region and the second lowest in the country.