Virginia Beach’s probation officers monitor and work with offenders towards the ultimate goal of enhancing public safety, and the secondary goal of probationer rehabilitation. These officers play an important role in helping offenders learn how to become responsible citizens of Virginia Beach, while at the same time holding offenders to account for strict compliance with their terms of probation.
In 2012 the average annual wage of probation officers in the Virginia Beach area was over $42,000 and the entry-level wage for Probation Officer I started at around $34,000.
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Education and Experience Requirements for a Probation Officer Career
in Virginia Beach
Probation officers working in Virginia Beach are employed by Virginia’s Division of Community Corrections under the Department of Corrections. This former agency prefers candidates for probation officer jobs to possess:
- A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a human services-related field such as psychology or social work
- Evidence-based practice awareness
- Experience managing clients in a criminal justice setting
- Knowledge of Virginia Codes relevant to community supervision of felons
The Division of Community Corrections requires candidates for probation officer jobs to meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Experience working with:
- Case management
- Diverse groups of clients
- Counseling a large caseload of clients
- Assessing and referring human service or criminal justice clients for appropriate treatment
- Creating and compiling reports
Application Process
Applications for Virginia Beach probation officer positions are only accepted online. Candidates begin the process by creating an online account that will lead to a state employment application. Applicants should also consider attaching their resume and a cover letter. Once the application has been filled out in its entirety, candidates can search for any vacancies listed in Virginia Beach on the State’s jobs website.
If the initial application is successful then candidates will need to make it through an interview, background investigation and drug screening process in order to become probation officers in Virginia Beach.
Training to Become a Virginia Beach Probation Officer
During the first year of a newly hired probation officer’s career, he or she will complete 160 hours of training and classroom education at the Academy for Staff Development (ASD) located in Crozier, or the ASD-West, located in Marion. Either academy includes training in:
- Virginia State Code
- Criminal justice and corrections systems
- Pre-sentence investigations
- Intake and assessment techniques
- Community resource awareness and referral
After their first year of employment, probation officers must complete an annual 40 hours of continuing education and training.