Probation officers in certain states are granted permission to carry firearms. As a previous intern for the Riverside Criminal Justice Agency Probation Office, I believe that probation officers should be able to carry weapons at their discretion. At this particular location in 2012, the probation officers were not allowed to carry weapons into the office. In fact, weapons were not allowed in the building at any time. I figured that weapons would only frighten their clients and break the trust between the probation officer and their clients. Clients may feel threatened at the sight of a weapon. The only means of protection at this location was a panic button. When a probation officer felt threatened by their clients, they used the panic button and a deputy sheriff would be on their way to help in seconds. Officers should have a choice as to whether they would like to carry a firearm as means of protection.

                                                                     Reference
Banks, C. (2013). Unethical Situations. Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice (3d ed.) (pp.173). Location: Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.