Corrections Community

PPA jobs vary by region. The PPA at my office does a lot of leg work in getting all of the police reports needed. (With 16,000 offenders that is a full time job.) The Community Supervision Centers use PPA's in place of CO's since they fall under P&P. The job there is primarly the safety and security of the facility. Checking offenders in and out for work release etc. You can become a PO without a college degree but i believe it is with 2 years as a PPA not a CO.

Are you short of staff due to an inability to find applicants, or because the Department doesn't fill the positions?

Hi. I am in administration with Missouri P&P. Sorry, but currently there isn't a track for folks withoutcollege degrees to become a P&P officer. It was that way in the past, but it is no longer the case. PPA II's actually do some case management in city's, but if they don't have a 4 year degree they cannot be promoted. PPA II's require 2 years of education. This may change in the future.

We are short staffed due to budget restraints. Overall, we have not had any problems finding good qualified canidates. I am from KCMO. In St. Louis it has been a bit more challenging for them.

How is the implementation of evidence based practices in Kansas City coming? What do you think of their effectiveness in predicting risk and motivating change.

It is going quite well. We are rolling out training in March-April of this year. I do believe we are doing a great service to the clients. Our IT has developed a Field Risk Reduction tool that is based historical actions of Missouri offenders. I trust is will be a good predictor.

Do officers have enough vehicles to go around, or do they have to use their personal vehicle? What about communication equipment in the field? Radios? Cellphones? How do you who work for the Department rate the training?

Could someone tell me what the timeline is from after meeting with a background investigator until hearing something or being offered a position? I beleive my background investigator is completing my investigation today, I am just curious how long it might be until I hear something? Thanks, Quintin

Typically 2 to 3 weeks. They will send you a letter either way.

Officers typically use their own vehicles for field work. Communication differs somewhat between rural and urban offices. We dont issue cell phones. Most officers use their personal phone in the field. I think the training is good. Of course most of the real learning takes place on the job. It is hard to teach what we do in a classroom setting.

Officers get reimbursed for mileage I presume? What about liability issues with the vehicle--accidents, vandalism, flat tires from driving through construction sites checking on probationers & parolees? Do officers typically use their own vehicles because that's all that's available? Or because it's simply more convenient for them? I understand that officers also enforce child support orders. How does that work? What if a probationer or parolee falls behind on their fees? At what point do you take it to the judge or consider revocation?

Greetings, I passed a background check, but I was not selected for the position I interviewed for. Can anyone recommend any steps I should take to be considered by other agencies? I am hoping to be hired soon and I am willing to go anywhere in the state. Is there anyone I could contact to see if I am under consideration anywhere? I received letters from seven districts, but I only heard from Columbia, which I interviewed and had a background investigation.

RSMO 217.722(2) states in part: "Any person on probation arrested under the authority granted in subsection 1 of this section shall have the right to a preliminary hearing on the violation charged as long as the person on probation remains in custody or unless the offender waives such hearing. The person on probation shall be notified immediately in writing of the alleged probation violation. If arrested in the jurisdiction of the sentencing court, and the court which placed the person on probation is immediately available, the preliminary hearing shall be heard by the sentencing court. Otherwise, the person on probation shall be taken before a judge or associate circuit judge in the county of the alleged violation or arrest having original jurisdiction to try criminal offenses or before an impartial member of the staff of the Missouri board of probation and parole, and the preliminary hearing shall be held as soon as possible after the arrest. Such preliminary hearings shall be conducted as provided by rule of court or by rules of the Missouri board of probation and parole." When and why would it be preferable for an arrested probationer be taken before the Board instead of a judge? Probation being a judicial function, is there not a legal conflict between an Executive Branch agency determining whether Probable Cause existed for a warrant to be issued? It sounds like a violation of the seperation of powers to me. The officer issues an arrest warrant (judicial function by an executive brance employee). Then the preliminary hearing to evaluate Probable Cause can also be held be a different executive brance employee. It would seem to me that it's proper that a judge, preferably the sentencing judge, be the branch of government issuing warrants and evaluating Probable Cause. Is there case law on the subject?

OK. Citing statute is getting detailed. In Missouri Probation and Parole are combined. Officers will have both on their caseload at any time. The hearing is conducted by a supervisor with the Department but not the supervisor that OK'd the warrant. The hearing is just to ensure due process so officers are issuing warrants for the right reasons. (The vast majority are issued for failing to report.) The offender still has the right to a Revocation hearing before the Sentencing Judge or Parole Board, depending on the type of case.

Any thoughts on how long it will be before Missouri resumes hiring for Probation/Parole Officer I? I have been told everything is on hold due to budget reasons.

I would only be guessing. I have heard the same thing. My best guess would be 6 months. They may do some emergency hires in the mean time in areas that lose a lot of officers through attrition. I would recomend looking for a caseworker job with a social service agency in the meantime. That would give you a good deal of experience workng with a similar population when we do start hiring again.

Any word on when Missouri might be hiring more Parole Officers?

July 1, 2009. Not to many vacancy's around the state right now though. I have 3 in my region. I cover KC and surrounding area

Hi, I'm taking the Merit exam tomorrow. What can I expect after the Merit exam? Assuming I do well and am placed on the register for P&P I. What is the next step? What are all the steps? If an applicant is invited for an interview, is there one general interview in the Personel office, or are their seperate interviews conducted by specific District Offices, or both?

Some of this might depend on where you are interviewing, but it will always be a standard set of questions at the initial interview stage. This interview is typically with management staff from the offices that have the vacancy, but not always. If you are a qualified, desirable canidate, then you will be called back for a abackground investigation. Typically there are more applicants than come back for abackground intervew than vacancy's, so it doesn't necessarily mean you have the job at that stage of the process. The background investigation takes 3-4 weeks and consists of a history of your work, work ethic, personal experiences that would prepare you for the job, education review, ect. Once the results of those investigations are in, you will recieve a phone call or a letter advising you of the status. I would bring your resume and supporting references to our initial interview, and then back again at the background stage. Hope this helps