Probation officers work to rehabilitate and
watch over offenders prior to or after sentencing. To become a probation
officer, students are urged to take courses in criminal justice. Many
accredited universities offer online criminal justice degrees that
enable students to take courses anywhere and at anytime.
Aspiring probation officers typically take
criminal justice,
psychology and social work courses. Both undergraduate and graduate
degrees are offered through online courses. Many universities offer
online criminal justice degrees to assist those who want to continue
their education. Once students have earned a degree in criminal justice
they need to research their state's requirements for becoming a
probation officer.
Probation officers watch over offenders to make sure they are not
breaking the law. Many times criminals (especially juveniles) are not
sent to prison but are put on probation. During this time probation
officers work with the family and employers of the offenders to
guarantee that the offenders are complying with the terms the court set
for probation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the job
growth for this career is projected to rise by 19% from 2008-2018 (
www.bls.gov).
At many of the online colleges students can select different focuses
within the criminal justice category, such as corrections, social
services, law enforcement and military law.
Class Requirements
With online courses students learn using different methods, depending
on the college. For the most part students use a specialized software
program, such as Blackboard, to post questions and e-mails, take part in
discussions and complete assignments.
In these courses students may develop a close working relationship
with their instructors, who may become more like academic advisors.
Students are expected to maintain communication with their instructors
through online discussions, e-mails and instant messenger programs.
List of Online Probation Officer Courses
Probation and Parole Class
This course may be an advanced level course; however, this is the
most important class for aspiring probation officers. Students learn how
probation and parole work with prisoners, juveniles, the courts and in
the often-biased world that offenders live in. Students learn through
online lectures and conferences how probation works in society and why
home visits are so important to establish a working relationship with an
offender.
Criminal Justice Class
In this introductory course students study the history and creation
of the criminal justice system and how it plays a role in today's
society. Students learn about career options and further education in
the criminal justice field. Some common terminology and laws are
covered.
Working with Juveniles Class
Through this course students study the nature of juvenile delinquency
and how the community plays a role in it. Students study the
environments and commonalities of juvenile delinquents. Through online
lectures students gain an understanding of juvenile courts, laws and
probation. Through exams, lectures and online conferences with
instructors, students learn to analyze the problem of delinquency and
possible prevention techniques. This course can be taken anytime during
the middle to the end of a program.
Criminal Procedures Class
Through readings and online lectures, students learn about the rights
and laws that surround victims, alleged criminals and law enforcement.
Students learn about the different procedures in collecting evidence,
such as confessions, identifications, arrests, warrants, searches,
frisking and the plain view doctrine. Students learn what protocol must
be followed when collecting evidence for the courts. This course can be
taken anytime during a program and is important for those who wish to
work in law enforcement or the criminal justice professions.
Victimology Class
An advantage of an online criminal justice program is the freedom of
choice students have concerning which courses to take and when to take
them. As an example of this, a class in victimology, or working with
victims of crimes, may be taken anytime during a program after
introductory classes are completed. This course may not be a common
choice among those who want to become probation officers. However, it is
a useful class because probation officers often interact with crime
victims as well as offenders. In this course students learn
communication skills, and how victims play a role in the prosecution of
offenders.
No comments:
Post a Comment