With a population of 1,024,266, Austin and the greater Travis County area have their share of juvenile crime. The Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, headquartered in Austin, is dedicated to delinquency prevention and intervention. It addresses the needs of juvenile offenders aged 10-17, their families, and their victims while also providing for public safety.
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Requirements for Becoming a Juvenile Probation Officer in Travis County
Persons interested in a career as a juvenile probation officer in Travis County must meet the following requirements:
- U.S. citizen
- At least 21 years old
- Bachelor’s degree from a college/university accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- One year or more graduate studies in corrections, criminology, counseling, law, psychology, social work or sociology OR one year full-time employment in casework, corrections, counseling or social work
The U.S. Census Bureau prediction of a 15.7 percent increase in the population of juveniles in Texas between 2008 and 2020, has increased the need for juvenile probation officers who are both bi-lingual and culturally responsive.
How to Apply for a Job as Juvenile Probation Officer in Travis County
Applications for Travis County juvenile probation officer jobs are only accepted for open positions. A list of open positions and online application forms are available at the Travis County Human Resources/Jobs website. Persons selected for a follow-up interview will be notified within 30 days of the closing of that position. The average salary of a juvenile probation officer in Texas is $43,000/year.
Additional information can be obtained from the Travis County Probation Department, 8011Cameron Road, Suite 106A, Austin, TX 78754; 512/854-7000.
Travis County Juvenile Probation Officers at Work
Juvenile probation officers in Travis County work in various divisions:
- Intake – these officers are on call 24-hours-a-day to meet with juveniles as they are initially brought in by police for having committed an illegal act. It is noted that the 116,500 juveniles arrested in Texas in 2010 represented a 10 percent drop from 2009, a decrease reflected in the counties.
- Deferred Prosecution – involves the informal processing of juveniles guilty of misdemeanors. Although not detained, these offenders are held responsible for their actions through restitution, mediation and/or community service.
- Court Services – juvenile probation officers make sentence recommendations to the Court on cases requiring a formal hearing.
- Probation Services – Travis County juvenile probation has three active regular supervision units and one intensive supervision unit for the management of juveniles who have been found guilty in Court and sentenced to formal probation. Juvenile probation officers meet regularly with offenders and their families in the probation office or at the juvenile’s home, school or workplace. Offenders are referred to available community services as needed. The focus is on teaching youths accountability for their actions and helping them make healthier decisions.
- Drug Treatment Court – Serves juveniles with substance abuse problems through the provision of substance abuse treatment and education as well as intense supervision (including weekly court reviews). The comprehensive program utilizes the “Reclaiming Futures” model, which involves a partnership between the Court, probation departments, offenders, families, community organizations, treatment facilities and mental health professionals.