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.
Bianca,
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and I completely agree! We have people called compliance officers where I work. The job of a compliance officer is to keep track of registered sex offenders and make sure they are in "compliance" with their probation. These officers actually visit these offenders on a weekly basis; they visit their work and homes. Can you imagine being a female going to visit the home of a registered sex offender who has "caution violent offender" permanently attached to his name and information and not being able to carry a firearm? I think they are crazy! Not the job for me and as far as I know we haven't had any problems but the risk just seems so high. I agree anyone working with criminal clients should be ok to carry some type of protection
To answer your question, "Can you imagine being a female going to visit the home of a registered sex offender who has "caution violent offender" permanently attached to his name and information and not being able to carry a firearm? I would be terrified because rape can happen at anytime. It is evident that this individual is dangerous and precautions should be taken place around this person. If something happens and he attacks me, who will be there to save me? When in fact if I was permitted to carry a firearm, then I could defend myself at any given time.
DeleteBianca,
ReplyDeleteI personally will start off saying that we should arm probation officers with guns. These individuals deal with inmates who have served time or have been paroled. These guys need to be armed in order to protect and serve not only the public but themselves. Reasons for this recommendation include are the classification of probation officers as peace officers. This is very important because they play role as a peace officer during their visits with probationers. The facilitation of community safety and offender accountability is important. Allowing the Probation Officer to carry a firearm ensure this. Supervision of high risk offenders, specialized narcotics task force participation and high risk during home visits are all part of the encounter of the job for a probation officer.
Great response. Thank you.
DeleteI absolutely agree with you. A probation officer is still an officer of the court and should be allowed the opportunity to protect him/herself. Probation officers have a dangerous job as well. They deal with many unstable people and need to protect themselves. A panic button will not stop anyone that is determined to cause someone harm. By the time the sheriff responds to the panic call, it might be too late. With the proper training in usage of the firearm, a probation officer should be allowed the opportunity to carry a weapon.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. At any point, a probation officer job may become a violent situation. I have a relative that works in the probation division in Houston. Every time we talk she tells me about some incident that occurred within their office. Probation officers are very vulnerable to violence because to an offender it is up to them either or not they are sent back to jail. Some offenders that know they have violated the conditions of their probation may at out. I think they should be able to defend themselves just as other law enforcement officers.
ReplyDeleteBianca,
ReplyDeleteI think probation officers should be allowed to carry firearms. They deal with people who have already committed a crime. Things can go from bad to worse very quickly once a probationer decide they do not want to follow the rules and guidelines of probation.
Hi there
ReplyDeleteI think probation officer should be able to carry firearms. They are also putting their lives in danger and they need some how protection. If they are dealing with individuals that are recovering , they still need some guarantee that they will be keep safe.
Bianca: You have written a good blog about the arming of probation officers. Professor Taylor
ReplyDelete