Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
All individuals who provide service to probationers, or has access to probation records, or who has telephone or face-to-face contact with probationers under Georgia supervision, or access to probationer data, is required to be registered and approved by MPOU, to sign a confidentiality statement agreeing to hold probation records confidential and to be maintained in the individual's personnel file, have a clear criminal record, and to meet the following specific requirements:
(a) Entity Directors and Owners Requirements. To be approved to operate a probation entity, owners and/or directors must have the qualifications set forth below. These qualifications must be demonstrated at the time of registration and at any other time reasonably requested by MPOU.
1. Initial Qualifications of Probation Entity. Upon application for registration approval to operate a probation entity, the applicant must include at least one employed person who is responsible for the direct supervision of probation officers. This supervisor shall have a minimum of 5 years' experience in one or a combination of the following: corrections counseling, parole officer, or probation officer. In its discretion, MPOU may approve experience not listed above.
2. Ongoing Qualifications of Probation Entities.
(i) Maintain a clear criminal record;
(ii) Ensure each individual completes continuing education;
(iii) Maintain continued employment of probation officer supervisor and;
(iv) Adhere to all other requirements established in these rules.
3. Change of location. The owner and/or entity director must notify MPOU prior to any change in the location of the primary entity location or address.
4. Change of contact information. The owner and/or entity director must notify MPOU of any change in the probation entity's telephone number, email, or other pertinent contact information within 3 business days.
(b) Probation Officers Requirements. To be employed as a probation officer with a probation entity the following shall be required:
1. Initial Qualifications of Probation Officers.
(i) Be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment;
(ii) Complete a standard 2 year college course of study or 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours from an accredited institution or have four years of law enforcement experience as a certified peace officer or jurisdictional equivalent, at the time of appointment. Any private probation officer who was employed as of July 1, 1996 and who had at least 6 months of experience as a private probation officer, or any person employed as a probation officer by a county, municipality, or consolidated government as of March 1, 2006, shall be exempt from such college requirements. Documentation of education, law enforcement experience, and POST certification shall be maintained in the probation officer's personnel files;
(iii) Complete a 40 hour initial orientation program within 6 months of appointment, and 20 hour annual in-service continuing education training program, consisting of a curriculum approved by MPOU. Training documentation shall be maintained in the probation officer's file and;
(iv) Sign a statement co-signed by the probation entity director or his/her designee that the probation officer has received an orientation on these rules as well as operations guidelines relevant to the probation officer's job duties which shall be maintained in the probation officer's personnel files.
2. Ongoing qualifications of Probation Officers.
(i) Maintain a clear criminal record;
(ii) Ensure each individual completes continuing education and;
(iii) Adhere to all other requirements established in these rules.
3. Change of contact information. All probation officers must notify MPOU of any change in his/her address, telephone number, email, or other pertinent contact information within 3 business days.
(c) Administrative Employee, Agent, Intern, or Volunteer Requirements. To work with a probation entity in any capacity, the following shall be required:
1. Initial qualifications of Administrative Employee, Agent, Intern, or Volunteer.
(i) Be at least 18 years of age;
(ii) Sign a statement co-signed by the probation entity director or his/her designee that the administrative employee, agent, intern, or volunteer has received an orientation on these rules as well as operations guidelines relevant to the administrative employee, agent, intern, or volunteer's job duties which shall be maintained in administrative employee, agent, intern, or volunteer's personnel files;
(iii) High School diploma or equivalent and;
(iv) Complete a 16 hour initial orientation program within 6 months of appointment and 8 hour annual in-service continuing education training program, consisting of a curriculum approved by MPOU.
2. Ongoing qualifications Administrative Employee, Agent, Intern, or Volunteer.
(i) Maintain a clear criminal record;
(ii) Ensure each individual completes continuing education and;
(iv) Adhere to all other requirements established in these rules.
(d) The failure to adhere to the above requirements shall subject the probation entity or individual to sanctions as provided in these rules.
O.C.G.A. §§
42-8-106.1, 42-3-10.
