In addition to the county seat of Jersey City, Hudson County is also the location of Union City, Hoboken and Secaucus, which contribute greatly to making this an important location for parole officers. Parole officer recruits and senior parole officers under the authority of the New Jersey State Parole Board perform parole supervision in Hudson County.
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Parole officers in Hudson County have partnered with U.S. marshals to stem the growing number of parole violators. Hudson County is the region in the country to target offenders who commit minor or serious parole violations in a strategic way to curtail crime. Twelve members of the Parole Fugitive Unit work with marshals to identify parole violators and apply a wide variety of law enforcement resources to search for and apprehend offenders. This hardnosed approach to parole violation serves as a reminder to other parolees to follow the terms of their parole. This program is also used in conjunction with the Fugitive Safe Surrender program that allows violators to turn themselves in for non-violent offenses.
Due to a state law that mandates most criminals guilty of a sex crime after 1994 must receive lifetime supervision, many Hudson County parole officer jobs are devoted to supervising sex offenders. Using a Containment Model, officers use GPS tracking and partnerships with local law enforcement to monitor sex offenders. Officers also utilize behavior modification treatment programs to mitigate impulses as well as polygraph tests to ensure that risky activities are avoided.
Requirements for Parole Officers in Hudson County, New Jersey
The New Jersey State Parole Board uses five ranks to designate parole officers: Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Senior Parole Officer and Parole Officer Recruit. Parole officer recruits are the entry-level position and will retain this designation for the probationary period between end of academy training and promotion to senior parole officer, which is usually limited to one year. Applicants to this agency must possess the following qualifications to be eligible to become parole officers in Hudson County:
- Graduated from a four year college
- Be a United States citizen
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Pass the civil service exam
- Ability to complete the Police Training Commission academy program
Although some new recruits may be able to obtain a job with only a bachelor’s degree, many of the most competitive applicants will have either four-year or even advanced degrees in criminal justice, social work or psychology. A great many applicants will also complement their academic credentials with professional experience in one of these fields.
The Police Training Commission Academy Program
The Police Training Commission academy program is a 24-week training curriculum that will include a rigorous physical fitness component as well as instruction in
- Criminal justice system
- Morals and ethics
- Stress management
- New Jersey laws
- Prevention of domestic violence
- Arrest and control procedures
- Firearms training
In order to graduate from the program and become parole officers, trainees must qualify with a firearm as well as pass a final examination. In order to maintain Police Officer Standards and Training certification, officers must obtain at least 40 hours of addition training and re-qualify with a firearm annually.