e reality of violent, predatory criminalsö (Petersilia ôPart One,ö 1998, p. 1). Such criticism has resulted in the chronic under-funding of probation programs, which further leads to many of the problems that critics point out, in particular, the lack of supervision of serious offenders and recidivism (Petersilia ôPart One,ö 1998, p. 1). Nonetheless, Petersilia argues that probation programs are an effective and efficient means of criminal punishment because they do provide a chance at rehabilitation and reduced ôcriminal socializationö (1). In addition, probation is a less expensive means of criminal punishment and provide an answer for AmericaÆs prison overcrowding problem.
There is no uniform training program for probation officers throughout the United States. In fact, training regimens can vary from district to district within states. Nonetheless, many states, such as California and Florida, require that probation officers possess a four-year college degree, preferably in pre-law, police science or criminal justice. Also, practically all jurisdictions bar individuals with felony convictions from holding a job as a probation officer. In some jurisdictions, such as California, probation officers are classified as peace officers û the same as police officers û and therefore they must be able to meet all the qualif
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