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Job
Description:
The field of criminal justice includes
jobs such as law enforcement officers, probation
and
parole
officers, correctional officers, and juvenile workers.
Law enforcement officers (police officers) are
responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining
order. Their primary duties are to protect life
and property, prevent crimes, and arrest and help
prosecute violators. They also prepare written
reports of their activities and testify in court.
Parole and probation officers help legal offenders adjust to society. They provide
support and guidance to help people identify and solve their problems. Parole
officers work with persons who have been released from a correctional institution
and spend most of their time counseling offenders who have returned to the community.
Probation officers work with juveniles and adults who have been released by the
court without sentence or imprisonment. They perform pre-sentence investigations,
write reports, give court testimony, and help their clients work toward long
range goals.
Correctional officers and juvenile detention workers supervise and control residents
in prisons, jails, detention centers, and halfway houses to maintain security
and enforce discipline. They oversee the daily activities of inmates, give out
work assignments, and help the inmates with specific tasks. They inspect the
facilities to ensure that conditions are sanitary and secure. They may supervise
inmates in transit and escort them to and from cells, courts, and other facilities.
They settle disputes among inmates, prevent escapes, and search and count inmates.
Juvenile workers handle case loads similar to parole and probation officers,
but work with offenders under 18 years of age.
Employment Opportunities:
Law enforcement officers: Employment is expected to grow as fast as the average
for all occupations in Oregon. Parole and probation officers: A bachelor’s
degree is a minimum requirement for entering this field. Although there is currently
a surplus of applicants, the recent passage of a ballot measure may eventually
lead to the hiring of many more parole officers. Correctional officers: Employment
is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations in Oregon. Juvenile
Workers: These workers may also need to complete a four-year college degree for
some types of employment. Employment opportunities do exist for persons with
two years of college training.
Potential Earnings:
The average entry level wage for law enforcement officers is $2,800 per month
and the average maximum wage is $3,800 per month; the average wage for correctional
officers is about $2,800 per month. The average wage for parole and probation
officers and juvenile workers is $3,500 per month.
Program
information is from our 2007-2008
Catalog.
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