From offices in Lewisville, Roanoke, Sanger, the Colony, and Cross Roads, probation officers with the Denton County Community Supervision and Corrections Department supervised 4,838 probationers in 2011. The number of misdemeanor probationers totaled 2,822 while felony probationers numbered 2,016. The average cost to Denton County per day to supervise these probationers was $6,676.44.
Requirements to Become a Probation Officer in Denton County, Texas
Candidates for probation officer jobs in Denton County must possess at least a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree should be in one of the following majors:
- Corrections
- Criminology
- Social work
- Law
- Psychology
- Sociology
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in other fields should have
- At least one year of graduate coursework in one of these fields; or
- At least one year of professional experience in counseling, casework or group work
Job candidates should possess the following competencies so as to be well qualified to become probation officers in Denton County:
- Interviewing procedures and techniques
- Methods to verify information with the Texas or National Crime Information Center
- Community supervision concepts, policies and procedures
- Knowledge of the judicial system
- Counseling practices and behavior modification procedures
- Operation of computers and common office machines
- Maintain files
- Superior oral and written communication
New officers must complete the Texas Probation Officer certification program within six months of hiring. Probation officers who wish to carry a firearm during performance of professional duties must obtain certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Annual re-qualification with firearms is required to maintain this certification.
In the first four years of service, officers must receive 80 hours of training every two years. After the first four years, only 40 hours of training every two years is required.
Probation Officer Salary Expectations in Denton County
In Denton County, the salary range for an adult probation officer is between $36,540 and $60,996. In the period between 2010 and 2020, the number of probation officers working in Denton County is expected to grow by 25 percent. The community supervision field offers numerous opportunities for professionals who wish to enter this occupation, but there is considerable upheaval within the profession.
Less than 14.3 percent of probation officers have more than 15 years of experience, suggesting that many officers leave the profession before reaching this milestone. In 2002, three out of ten probation officers had less than three years of experience; by 2008, this number has grown to almost four out of ten.
Interstate Compact for Probation and Parole Supervision
Denton County, like all Texas counties, must comply with the Interstate Compact for Probation and Parole Supervision. This national statute allows probationers to transfer their supervision to another jurisdiction if they follow the stipulated procedure. To qualify for Interstate Compact, probationers must meet the following qualifications:
- Possess a valid plan of supervision
- Has complied with the terms of probation to date
- Has more than 90 days remaining on probation
- Is a resident of the receiving state; or
- Has family in the receiving state; or
- Has a job available in the receiving state