Careers In Criminal Justice, Part II: How to Become a Probation Officer
Careers In Criminal Justice, Part II:
How to Become A Probation Officer
Posted on 3/23/2022
In an earlier blog post, we described how to become a Boston Police Officer. In this article we describe the best paths to becoming a Probation Officer in Massachusetts.
What is a Probation Officer and How Much Do They Make?
There are two types of Probation Officers:
Pre-Trial Service Officers investigate the background of accused individuals to determine if they can be safely allowed back into the community before their trial dates. They assess risk and make a recommendation to a judge. They are also responsible for supervising individuals released to the community to make sure that they adhere to the terms of their release and appear at their trials.
Post-trial Probation Officers supervise convicted offenders who have been given probation in lieu of jail time. They ensure that offenders are meeting the requirements of their release and help connect them to treatment and other services.
The median salary of Probation Officers employed in Greater Boston in 2020 was $90,000.
How to Become Probation Officer
To qualify as a Probation Officer, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree and a passing grade on the Trial Court Officers Civil Service Exam, which is now accepting registrations through Feb. 24, 2023. You do not need to major in criminal justice. However, a degree related to social or human services (e.g., social work) or criminal justice is a plus.
Most successful candidates have one or more of the following qualifications:
Experience working in the court system (e.g., caseworker or administrative coordinator)
Experience as a caseworker or social worker for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) or a private agency
A Master’s degree
How Can I Gain Experience Needed to Strengthen My Application?
Several court-related agencies, including the Massachusetts Trial Court , the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office sponsor paid summer internship programs. Experience with database programs and data analytics is a plus for some of these positions.
The Massachusetts Trial Court System, the state agency that hires Probation Officers, has entry-level administrative and case specialist positions available for recent college graduates. Click on Massachusetts Trial Court Jobs to see current job openings.
How Can I Learn More About Becoming a Probation Officer?
If you’d like to learn more about the work of a Probation Officer and how to enter the field, please email Orquidia Paulino (opaulino@nextgentalent.org).