Probation officer

SUSAN W. MILLER, M.A, Special to The Times
June 30 2006

Question: My cousin had a run-in with the law and was on probation for a while. To this day, he credits his probation officer for helping him stay out of trouble and become more responsible. I have always had an interest in working in law enforcement and am thinking about working as probation officer especially with juveniles. If I pursue this job can I choose the population I want to work with? Do I need to complete a college degree to qualify for the job?
— Brian

Response: According to a representative of the County of Los Angeles Probation Department, most entry-level probation officer openings occur in the juvenile system. These probation officers are called Detention Service Officers (DSOs) and work either at a juvenile hall or camp facility.

As you progress in you career, you also have the option of working as a field probation officer or Deputy Probation Officer I (DPO). Most DSOs are able to transition to a job as a DPO, and currently the County of Los Angeles has posted openings for both DSOs and DPOs.

Job Description
Probation Officers/DSOs monitor juveniles detained at a juvenile camp or hall. They observe their behavior. If necessary, they take appropriate action and write reports if rules are broken or other disturbances occur.

DSOs are responsible for ensuring that injured or ill juveniles receive proper medical attention when needed. DSOs also provide situational counseling. In general, DSOs need to have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, like your cousin's probation officer was able to do.

If you were to be promoted to the position of Deputy Probation Officer, you would be working with juveniles on parole from a correctional institution, monitoring their daily activities. Probation Officers also investigate the conditions in the homes of ex-offenders, keep accurate records and write reports.

Minimum Job Requirements
The minimum job requirements to be a County of Los Angeles DSO include being at least 21 years old and having no prior felony convictions. In terms of educational requirements, you need to complete at least 60 units of general education coursework in the behavioral or social sciences such as criminology or sociology. You also have to pass a written examination, which is the preliminary step before securing an interview.

Once selected, you will have to attend a 40-hour orientation and then complete a 168-hour training program. The program takes approximately four to five weeks to complete. Courses are conducted Tuesday through Friday. Course topics include report writing and handcuffing procedures. Students are paid while completing training. Currently, the training program is offered through West Los Angeles College in Culver City.

West Los Angeles College: 9000 Overland Avenue; Culver City, CA 90230; (310) 287-4200; www.wlac.edu

Educational Programs
As a DSO, you have the option of working three full workdays, which would leave you four days off. This work schedule would allow you to attend classes during your off days. If while completing 60 units you have not finished an A.A. degree, you could consider completing it in the behavioral or social sciences at any of the 21 community colleges in the Los Angeles County area. Typically, both day and evening courses are offered.

Here are some community colleges that offer courses related to criminal justice:

Los Angeles Pierce Community College: 6201 Winnetka Ave.; Woodland Hills, CA 91371; (818) 719-6401; www.piercecollege.edu

Courses offered include Sociology 3: Crime and Delinquency and Administration of Justice 4: Principles and Procedures of the Justice System. The cost is $26 per unit.

Los Angeles City College: 855 N. Vermont Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90029; (323) 953-4000; www.lacitycollege.edu

Courses offered include Administration of Justice 008: Juvenile Procedures and Administration of Justice 114: Report Writing for Peace Officers. The cost is $26 per unit.

Long Beach City College: 4901 E. Carson St.; Long Beach, CA 90808; (562) 938-4111; www.lbcc.edu

Courses offered include Administration of Justice 14: Juvenile Law and Procedures and Administration of Justice 10: Writing for Criminal Justice. The cost is $26 per unit.

The following is a link to all community colleges in California:

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office: www.cccco.edu/find/find.htm

After completing an associate's degree, you could consider enrolling in a bachelor's degree program. This is the minimum job requirement for being hired as a County of Los Angeles Deputy Probation Officer (DPO). While you could choose any major, criminal justice probably makes the most sense.

Here are a few schools in the area that offer bachelor's degree programs in criminal justice:

California State University Dominguez Hills: College of Business Administration and Public Police; 1000 E. Victoria Street; Carson, CA 90747-0005; (310) 243-3548; www.csudh.edu

The University offers a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice Administration program. Courses include Criminal Justice and the Community, Administrative Law, and Juvenile Justice Process. Undergraduate tuition for a part time semester is $730. For a full-time semester, it is $1260.

California State University, Northridge: Department of Sociology; 18111 Nordhoff St.; Northridge, CA 91330; (818) 677 3591; www.csun.edu

The University offers a bachelor's degree program in sociology with an option to minor in criminology and criminal justice. Courses for the minor include Criminology, Corrections, and Policing Society. Undergraduate tuition for a part time semester is $730. For a full-time semester, it is $1260.

Job Resource

Los Angeles County: Probation Department; Office Headquarters; 9150 E. Imperial Highway; Downey, CA; (562) 940-2601; probation.co.la.ca.us

The department provides an online listing of employment opportunities.

Employment Outlook
Average growth is projected through 2010 for probation officers.

Salary Range
The beginning pay of a County of Los Angeles DSO is approximately $20 per hour or $42,600 per year.

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Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.