Mar 3rd, 2012 Dallas TX – Police are pushing for a second charge against Deion Sanders for a domestic dispute that occurred between himself and his estranged wife last month.

Police officials along with the Collin County District Attorney’s office are pushing for misdemeanor criminal mischief against the 44-year-old ex-football star.

Sanders told the police the following about the incident:

Pilar, and her friend Diana Boswell attacked him in the bedroom of the Prosper mansion that the divorcing couple still shares.

Originally, Pilar was arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor family assault. Upon further investigation charges for simple assault were waged against Sanders and Boswell.

The new charges against Sanders are apparently in connection with his attempt to destroy a cell phone with which Boswell had recorded the incident.

Peter Schulte, Pilar’s attorney said:

“We believe that he destroyed the property of another to conceal the evidence,”

He also added that the phone’s memory card was recovered and turned over to authorities for further investigation.

For those interested in pursuing police officer jobs, in this article we’ll take a closer look at police officer salary figures, as well as the job growth outlook for this career. It is always a great idea to figure out how much money you can make along with the future demand expected in regards to careers you are thinking about pursuing before actually pursuing those careers. This information can help you to decide if the career is “worth” pursuing and how long it could potentially take you to pay back students loans based on the pay you will be earning once you land a job.

Career Outlook

Employment for police officers and detectives combined is expected to grow around 7% between the years of 2010 to 2020. In comparison to all other jobs occupations across the Unites States this is roughly half of what is expected; as the total growth for all occupations across the United States is expected to be around 14%. Although demand for new officers remains high, tight budgets and budget cuts will mean less jobs; and therefore as a result there will be higher competition amongst those competing for these job openings.

Generally the best areas to find work will be at the local levels where salaries are lower, which results in higher turnover rates, leading to more job openings. Jobs at the state federal level will be more competitive than ever, because these jobs offer higher pay. Applicants with the highest levels of experience will be the most desired candidates; being bilingual, having a 4 year bachelors degree along with experience could be the deciding factors.

Government spending determines the amount of new hires that will be brought on when it comes to police officer work. With this being said the number of jobs available can vary from year to year and from place to place depending on government budgets.

Police Officer Salary Figures

According to the Bureau of Labor Statics detective and police officer salaries were roughly $55k annually in May of 2010. The lowest 10% of those working in this field earned $32k annually; while the top 10% earned more than $88k.

Other sources estimate the median police officer salary to be around $50k annually as of April, 2012.

The standard work week is 40 hours, but it is not uncommon for police officers to work overtime; and they are paid overtime rates for these hours. Police officers work in shifts around the clock, because cities need to be supervised 24 hours a day. With this being said it is not unusual for officers to have to work early mornings, late nights, weekend and holidays.

Thanks for visiting our Police Officer Salary Figures and Career outlook article. We hope you have found this article to be informative and helpful. For more information regarding police officer careers be sure to visit our Police Officer Job Description page. You can also find more information about other criminal justice careers from our homepage.

March 23, 2012 – John J. O’brien former probation commissioner along with two of his former top assistants have been indicted.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said:

“This is a very serious matter,”

“We’ve just indicted three former state public officials who were supposed to be working on behalf of this Commonwealth and who were engaged in criminal activity.’’

O’brien and along with his assistants Elizabeth V. Tavares and William H. Burke III allegedly were giving jobs to allies of legislators along with friends in order to increase their budget and for other “perks”.

The indictment includes 26 examples of hiring decisions that were politically influenced. The 3 are accused of running a hiring process where thousands of people were hired that were not nearly qualified as they should have been, and had nearly no chance of landing the job if it weren’t for the scheme in place. O’brien was responsible for selecting the winning candidates for open job positions before the hiring process for the position had even begun.

According to the Boston Herald:

“In fact … O’Brien routinely selected the name or names of a ‘preferred’ candidate for each position from the sponsor lists and provided those names to the defendants Tavares and Burke and other members of the interview panels,”

“The trio then ensured the “sponsored” candidates received the highest score in the final round of interviews before falsifying the scoring sheets, according to prosecutors.”

It’s really unfortunate that there would have been plenty of candidates who worked hard to obtain the proper credentials yet had no chance of ever being hired during these phony job interviews.

Let us know how you feel about this incident, and what do you think would be a proper punishment for those involved?

March 3, 2012 – The state of Florida is trying to reel in expenses pertaining to their prison system to the tune of $79 million for this last quarter of their fiscal year. The need to cut budgets means that some offenders will be receiving less probation officer visits through June of this year. Only those under intensive supervised probation will be receiving their standard visits.

Offenders who are on parole for less serious offenses; like house arrest for example will be receiving bi-weekly visits instead of weekly visits. The state hopes to save around $400k in expensive by employing this new model for this last quarter of the year.

In response to many concerns the agency had the following to say:

Public safety is the first and primary consideration before any adjustments are made.

However, if a modification has been made, those probationers will continue to be monitored in other ways. Due to security, the department cannot discuss further specifics as it relates to our processes as we oversee and monitor probationers.

It seems the plan to save money could backfire if offenders on probation were to break their probation due to less supervision and end up in prison. Besides helping offenders become productive members of society once again; probation helps to relieve the financial burden of incarcerating all offenders.

February 14, 2012 Pennsylvania, PA – There was an article posted today in the The Times Leader where a county in Pennsylvania was found to have some of the lowest caseloads yet some of the highest paid probation officers in the entire state. This fact in itself made for an very interesting article; for the purposes of this article I thought the probation officer salary and caseload information was interesting.

For many who visit this website the information being looked for is more in regards to salary and caseload information because many are contemplating whether or not they would like to pursue a career in probation. With that being said let’s take a look at some of the data that was available in the article which I think many who are interested in pursuing this career may find interesting.

For starters probation officers in the adult division were earning an average salary of $53,544 per year; this number was the fourth highest for all counties in Pennsylvania (65 counties in total). For those working in juvenile probation, they were earning an average salary of $56,732 annually.

The highest paying county in the state for adult probation averaged $65,560; while the lowest paying county averaged $20,462. As you can see in this real life example depending on where you are located it can make a very substantial difference in the amount of money you can earn.

For the county in the article that had some of the lowest caseloads (Luzerne) yet the highest paid probation officers, each officer had an average caseload of 97 cases per year. In another Pennsylvania county probation officers were handling 173 probation cases annually on average per officer; this was found to be 78% higher than Luzerne county.

The article also mentions caseloads being determined by a “workload” model which takes into consideration the complexity of the case.

A case with a high priority would require four hours per month equaling 30 as a total caseload.

Medium priority would require two hours per month equaling 60 as a total caseload.

Low priority would require one hour per month equaling a total caseload of 120.

For more information regarding probation officer salary figures you can visit our web page dedicated to that topic. To read the Times Leader Article mentioned in this post you can find it by clicking here.

What is a bailiff? In this career profile we will examine the bailiff job description which includes educational requirements, training, bailiff duties and responsibilities, along with the job’s salary information. Bailiffs are responsible for maintaining courtroom safety and order. Bailiffs are also known as court officer, marshals and are law enforcement officers. If this career interests you, then please read on as we will provide you with more information regarding this profession.

The duties of a bailiff vary depending on their location, but often include assisting judges, enforcing courtroom rules, delivering court documents, and protecting jury members from outside contact during trials. In general bailiffs provide courthouse security.

Bailiffs are also responsible for swearing in witnesses, and ensuring the courtroom is stocked with all necessary supplies, and items. Bailiffs are responsible for being the one in the courtroom who enforces court orders as well as exercises judicial mandates. Transportation of prisoners from the jail or penitentiary to the courthouse where the trial will be held the accused is also a task which the bailiff undertakes.

Bailiff Educational Requirements and Training

A high school diploma or the equivalent is something which will suffice for those who aspire to pursue careers in this field. In various jurisdictions bailiffs may be asked to participate in special training courses in order to build their courtroom skill set when it comes to enforcing court order and understanding paralegal terminology.

Other good skills that desirable candidates will posses are the following. Strong interpersonal and communication skills; bailiffs are consistently interacting with the public, jurors, judges, and prisoners. Bailiffs need to be able to tactfully handle courtroom situations, as well as be able to communicate with a variety of members in our society. They should be in good mental and physical condition. Courtroom situations may require a bailiff to restrain a person; therefore, being in good shape along with having the skills to physically manage a person is a must. These types of situations can be stressful and bailiffs must remain calm, therefore mental stability is also required.

A good fundamental understanding of courtroom and legal procedures, coupled with and understanding of legal terminology is also desirable. Many of the skills that help a bailiff to become successful at what they do is learned on the job, and something that can only be acquired through work experience.

List of Bailiff Duties and Responsibilities

• Screen individuals entering the courthouse utilizing x-ray machines, magnetometers, and other equipment designed to help find contraband and firearms
• Escorting judges, jurors and offenders from and to the courthouse building
• Asking people to not smoke, or disturb court hearings
• Maintain courtroom order before, during and after trial proceedings
• Ensure cleanliness of the courtroom along with ensuring supplies are stocked such as: pens, notepads and supplies for jurors & judge
• Handles and helps with exhibits and evidence during courtroom trials
• Announces entrance of judge into the courtroom

Bailiff Salary and Job Outlook

Jobs in this field of work are expected to grow between 7-13% between the years of 2008 to 2018. This rate of growth is about as fast as all other jobs across the United States. Job growth in this field will be due to a rising population, and in turn will lead to more people being incarcerated; meaning more court trials.

According to the Unites States Department of Labor Statistics the median annual bailiff salary was estimated to be around $38,570 in May of 2010. The middle 50% of bailiffs earned between $27k and $55k; while the top 10 percent earned over $66,400 per year.

States with the highest employment rates for these jobs were: New York, Illinois, Florida, Ohio and Georgia respectively.

Top paying states for bailiff jobs:

Thanks for visiting our bailiff job description and career information page. We hope you have found this page detailed and informational. You should now have the information you need to answer the question “what is a bailiff?” and “what does a bailiff do?” For more criminal justice career profiles please visit some of our other articles.

You may be curious to know how posting bail works. You’ve probably seen plenty of movies and television programs where the judge announces “Bail to be set at $50,000”. The defendant appears to not really be sure of what is going on, and then looks at his attorney for some sort of explanation or advice. Then in the next scene you see the defendant walking free, awaiting his trial, and perhaps you’re thinking “where do people come up with that much money?” After all, how many people have $50,000 sitting in their bank account, how was he/she able to afford that?

How Bail Works

With this being said we can now take a closer look at how posting bail works and how people are able to come up with these large sums of money, so they can enjoy their freedom up until their scheduled trial date. Bail works in that the court holds the sum of money in question until the defendant shows up for his trial date and through the duration of the proceedings. The goal is to set the bail amount at a level which is high enough that the defendant will not leave the country, hide out, or not show up for court; or else forfeit this sum of money. Once the proceedings have been completed, the defendant is either found innocent, and let free, or found guilty and put in jail; at this point the defendant is no longer a “flight risk”, and therefore the bail money can be returned. “Flight risk” meaning the defendant may try to leave the country, or hide out in order to avoid showing up to court to be possibly found guilt and placed in jail.

Why Get Bailed Out?

In many instances, trials may not commence for weeks or even months after the initial arrest of an offender. If there was no such thing as bail, or bail is not set, then these offenders who may be innocent have to await their court dates behind bars. Allowing somebody to post bail, lets them to spend their time outside of jail while they await their trial date. For those who may eventually be found innocent, having to stay in jail for possibly weeks or months would be unfair and could also create hardship at home. While a person is in jail they are not able to work, and they may also be missing important birthdays and holidays they would normally be spending with family. Bail provides a person with the opportunity to live their days free until it is proven that they are guilty or not guilty of the crime/s they are being accused of having committed.

What Is A Bail Bondsman?

A bail bondsman, or a bail bond agent is a person, business or corporation that will pledge a sum of money or property as a form of bail for the appearance of the accused in court. There are many surety companies who supply surety bonds for all types of businesses, however they usually do not specialize in bail bonds like a bail bondsman or bail bond agent does. Bail bondsman on the other hand specialize in this type of business and are usually able to provide bail quickly and get their clients back home within a few hours of bail being set. Bail bondsman are primarily found in the United States, and in the Philippines; in most countries around the world bail is usually set at a much lower amount eliminating the need for a bail bond agents. In most other countries the activity of bounty hunting is also illegal.

Typically bond agents have special security agreements with the local courts, where they agree to post a “blanket” bond. If any defendant for whom the bail bondsman is responsible for does not show up for court this blanket bond will cover the bail amount. Bond agents typically have special arrangements with banks, insurance companies and other credit providers so that they can draw against their credit lines in order to post bail even at times when these businesses would normally be closed; for example nights, weekends and holidays.

How Bail Bondsman Make Money

Typically bail bondsman collect a 10 to 15% fee of the total amount of bail they put up for a defendant. For example if you needed a $100,000 bond, you would pay a bail agent $10-15k to put up the full amount for you, and he/she would keep this amount which you’ve given them.

We hope this article has given you a better idea of how posting bail works and has also answered the question “what is a bail bondsman?” For more information about probation, parole, or criminal justice careers please visit some of our other web pages.

January 1, 2012 Frankfort, KY – Recently roughly 1,000 convicts in Kentucky were able to leave prison early due to a change in the state law. The Department of Corrections reported the cost to house a prisoner was roughly around $21k per year in the state of Kentucky. However, the cost to have a parole officer supervise someone on parole or probation only costs the state around $1,000 per year.

In addition to the savings that will be had from having released these offenders from jail it is still unknown what the savings will be in regards to the changed legislation which will put certain offenders on probation instead of being put in prison.

More people are now being cited for misdemeanor crimes rather than being arrested for certain crimes with the newer more lenient laws. However, police officers still have the discretion needed if they believe the individual should be arrested, rather than cited for a misdemeanor.

The Department of Corrections stated that roughly 12,500 less people were cited for crimes from June through November in comparison to the same period of time in 2010 in Kentucky.

Give us your thoughts on more lenient laws allowing offenders to receive probation or parole instead of being jailed? Do you believe these decisions are being made for money saving reasons, or because they actually believe probation and parole are better methods of rehabilitating offenders?

Reference: The Republic – Nearly 1,000 Ky. prisoners are walking out of prison early as penal code changes take effect

January 1, 2012 – A park ranger was fatally shot at Mount Rainier National Park in the state of Washington following a traffic stop on New Year’s day. The national park was shutdown as dozens of authorities entered the park to search for the gunman over the rugged and snowy park terrain.

Ed Troyer who is the Pierce county sheriff said a 24 year old named Benjamin Colton Barnes was a “strong person of interest” in the shooting of Margaret Anderson the park ranger. A spokesperson for the park explained that Barnes is an Iraq war veteran. Troyer said park authorities found a vehicle which belonged to Barnes and it contained body armor and weapons.

Police said Barnes is also a suspect in a shooting of 4 people which happened early Sunday morning at a house party in south Seattle. The incident occurred at 3 am and was said to have began when the people involved began arguing about a gun. The shooting left 4 people injured, 2 are in critical condition.

It is believed Barnes is still hiding out in the park with firearms and weapons. The park has asked people to stay away, and for those in the park to leave.

Authorities have been tracking the gunman through the snow by following what they believe are his footprints. Troyer believes they will eventually track down the gunman, but for now he has a head start.

At 10:20 am Sunday, Barnes sped by a traffic checkpoint. A park ranger began to follow his vehicle, while Anderson eventually blocked the vehicle from the front in order to stop it. Barnes fled from the vehicle while firing shots, as the rangers pursued him Anderson was hit with gunfire.

It has been legal to bring firearms into the park since 2010.

The park brings in around 1.5-2 million visitors every year. One of the main highlights of the park is Mount Rainier which stands at 14,410 feet high, and has spectacular views.

December 31, 2011 – In more and more counties across the United States probation officers are being asked to setup shop in local schools to help ensure those students on probation stay in school, and abide by the rules.

One of the newer counties in the Unites States to employ this model is that of DeKalb County in the state of Georgia. The program was implemented in 2010. Probation officers are often offered offices and also patrol the campus on foot.

In the case of schools in Dekalb, probation officers drop by and visit the school on average about 3 days a week. Roughly 15 probation officers participate, and monitor 386 students who have been placed on probation for offenses ranging from minor to more serious.

Dekalb county was inspired to implement the program based on the success that other counties across the United States have been having; especially that of Pennsylvania. Allentown, Pennsylvania has had probation officers in their schools since 1990. Supporters of the program say the program has resulted in safer schools, and improved attendance by the students. The program has also resulted in fewer students being placed on probation and fewer offenses committed by those that had been on probation.

The probation officers wear normal street clothing when working at the schools, and let the school police officers enforce school policy, however the probation officers chat with students, and not just those that are on probation. The officers serve as good role models for the students by serving as good listeners, and by providing students with sounds advice.

Proponents of the program to have officers in schools say it makes sense because kids spend a majority of their days in school. Probation officers are able to spend more time with more kids at school than if they had to make individual house calls, after school empties out in the late afternoon. Not only does it seem to make more sense for these reasons, but is also more cost effective. A juvenile probation officers entire case load could possible be contained in one large school, that he/she visits.

Reference: ajc.com – Probation officers move into schools