Correctional Treatment Specialists Career

In the correctional treatment specialists career, the treatment specialists are also known as 'case managers'. The correctional treatment specialists main job is to conduct counseling sessions, rehabilitation programs, and post release analysis to make sure the offenders get all their needs fulfilled. Thus, the correctional treatment specialists work for the betterment of offenders and make sure they do not commit any other crime. Therefore, these case mangers play an important role in maintaining peace throughout the world. However, their job is risky and dangerous as they have to work with different kinds of criminals which may at times be dangerous to their lives.

Tasks:-
In the correctional treatment specialists career, correctional treatment specialists take up the following tasks:-

• Interact and interview the offenders, their relatives, police, and lawyers.
• Prepare reports that describe the offenders progress.
• Collect information about offenders past life, and the reason behind the crimes, about their families and friends and other relevant information and present it to the court.
• Conduct rehabilitation programs, or programs to increase the offenders morale and create some goals and objectives for their life.
• Monitor and supervise the offenders and study their psychological state.
• Arrange medical, mental health, or abuse / addictions treatments based on the offenders need and courts order.
• Arrange post-release services for the offenders like employment, housing, education, counseling and other social activities.

Qualification:-
To enter the correctional treatment specialists career, the basic qualification needed is a bachelor's degree. The bachelor's degree in criminal justice, psychology, corrections, social work, counseling, sociology, or any other related field is accepted. Thus, the correction treatment specialists can get entry-level jobs in local, state and federal governments. However, for senior-level jobs a master's degree is necessary. Some of the employers may also need candidates with experience in counseling, social work, criminal investigation, parole, and have conducted different types of rehabilitation programs.

Other necessary skills:-
The correctional treatment specialists should have some other skills that are necessary to be successful in correctional treatment specialists career. They are as follows:-

• Excellent interpersonal skills as they need to communicate with offenders, their families, lawyers, judges and police.
• Strong physical stamina and emotional stability.
• Excellent written communication skills as they need to prepare different reports and submit them to the courts.

Place of work:-
In the correctional treatment specialists career, correctional treatment specialists work most of the times in courts, jails, prisons or parole or probation agencies. They also travel extensively to visit offenders, their relatives, friends, or to attend meetings. Generally they work for 40 hours a week. However, they might even work for longer hours and even on weekends. They also need to work continuously for months until the case of the offender gets resolved.

Job Opportunities:-
There are many job opportunities in the correctional treatment specialists career. The correctional treatment specialists are mostly needed in courts and police stations.
The correctional treatment specialists are also needed in following areas like:

• Social services
• Youth offending teams
• Health and mental services
• Housing departments
• Substance /abuse /addictions treatment services
• Independent and voluntary sector partners

The correctional treatment specialists job is similar to other fields like:-

• Probation officers
• Parole officers
• Social workers
• Counselors
• Detectives

Remuneration:-
In the correctional treatment specialists career, the salary that correctional treatment specialists get is best for those working with the state, local and central government agencies. However, the salary also depends on the type of cases, employer, and the experience. The entry-level correctional treatment specialists get comparatively less salary, but the salary goes on increasing with years of experience. Those working in private social services are paid comparatively less as they depend on the government for funding.

Job Progress:-
In the correctional treatment specialists career, the state, local and central government agencies train the fresh graduate students in counseling, psychology, rehabilitation programs, or any other jobs as trainees. With years of experience as trainees, and based on the performance correctional treatment specialists are made permanent. The candidates with a master's degree and relevant experience are eligible for higher-level jobs. They may advance to supervisors, or head of the department, or director of a particular agency.

Employment forecast:-
The correctional treatment specialists career is expected to grow more rapidly in the future. As the population grows, there would be a probable increase in terrorism and crimes despite of law enforcement. Although, the criminals increase, not every criminal or offenders are sent to jail or prison. They might be given a chance by the court or kept on parole or probation period. Thus, correctional treatment specialists will be needed in large numbers in the coming years. The employment growth opportunities are more in local, state and central government agencies. However, the employment for correctional treatment specialists also depends on the court orders. Thus, if the court gives order to let the criminal serve the punishment in jail and do not give probation period it may affect the employment for correctional treatment specialists and probation officers.