Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in the Division of Juvenile Justice within the North Carolina Department of Public Safety supervise Wake County juveniles who are sentenced to probation or parole.
In 2011, Wake County reported 2,168 juvenile complaints with a juvenile crime rate of 15.53 crimes per 1,000 youths aged 6 to 18. This is a significant drop since 2005, when Wake County reported 2,968 juvenile crimes and a crime rate of 26.39 per 1,000 youths.
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Critical Role of Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
Much of Wake County’s success in limiting juvenile delinquency can be attributed to accurate reporting of juvenile crime statistics and responsive policies by the Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. The Council reported that in 2009, 93 percent of youths were at least 12 at the time their first delinquent offense was committed. Almost 48 percent of youths entering the juvenile justice system had some prior interaction with the courts, suggesting that repeat offenders were a serious problem.
Wake County also has several contributing factors that are elevating juvenile delinquency. Almost 44 percent of Wake County delinquents are believed to have some substance abuse issues. More than 30 percent of youths entering the system were believed to have run away from home. At least 28 percent of youths in the system are suspected of having some gang relationship. Gang presence in Wake County has grown steadily; only 14 percent of delinquents were suspected of gang ties in 2005, and 21 percent in 2006.
Qualifications to Become a Juvenile Probation Officer in Wake County,
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety sponsors the juvenile probation and parole officer jobs in Wake County, North Carolina. These jobs may provide salaries ranging from $37,125 up to $59,604, however the qualifications for obtaining a juvenile probation officer position are quite involved.
General and Degree Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a valid NC driver’s license
- Live within 30 miles of the assigned county
- Be able to own and carry firearms
- Be able to complete self-defense training
- Graduated from an accredited university with a bachelor’s degree in one of the following
- Criminal justice
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Correctional services
- Have at least one year of experience in probation or parole supervision
Applicants interested in becoming Wake County juvenile probation officers must successfully pass an interview and background check to be hired. A medical examination, drug test and psychological evaluation will also be conducted to determine suitability.
Once hired, new juvenile probation and parole officers must complete a 217 hour training program that will include courses in
- Legal system
- Probation law
- Parole law
- Crisis intervention
- Offender supervision
- Case management
- Processing probation cases
- Interstate compact
- Drug identification
- Professional ethics
- Handgun safety
- Situational decision making
At the close of the training program, new recruits must pass a written exam and qualify in the use of a handgun.