To become a probation officer, you will need to be sufficiently prepared to handle being around ex offenders and be more than willing to help these people re-adjust to a life outside of prison, always ensuring that they are rehabilitated completely, so as not to commit any future crimes in society as a whole. Some of these offenders may not have even been to prison, and have merely been sentenced to a probationary period with conditions such as community service, substance abuse classes and even regular counseling. It would be your job as a probation officer to ensure that they attend all these classes and complete their community service and thus do not break the conditions of their parole agreement.

 When you become a probation officer you will be known as an officer of the court and it will be your job to investigate the history of the offender on trial and compile a special report with your personal points of view regarding the offender included. At the pre-trial hearing, the judge will overlook your report and recommendations and then set a date for a trial or release the offender into your care, with certain conditions attached to his or her probation period. Once an offender is in your care, you will need to create a full-proof plan on how to help the offender return back to a normal lifestyle without committing any further offences.

 Once you have become a probation officer and you feel that one of your clients is out of control, you are able to make the decision to have him or her re-arrested, as well as order a drug test, search or take evidence, if you feel that he or she is not sticking to the conditions of his or her parole agreement. You will report your findings directly to your parole board supervisor and they will then take the next step and advise you on the further proceedings. You are also able to make certain requests and recommendations on behalf of your client, such as additional counseling, or classes for drug user, like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, that you think will help to further rehabilitate the individual.

 Before you decide to become a probation officer, you must realize that you will be forced to work with often quite dangerous offenders and serious criminals, recently released from prison. In some areas of the United States, probation officers are required to carry a weapon, such as a firearm with them at all times as you are often required to visit your clients at their homes in dangerous areas of the city. It is important for a probation offer to visit the areas of their clients’ homes not only to conduct interviews and chat to them, but also to see what sorts of community centers you may be able to get your client involved in, as having a normal social life is an extremely important part of any rehabilitation process.