Skip to main content

Implementation of the Juvenile Probation Officer Certification Examination

The Juvenile Justice Training Academy has worked diligently over the last year with the Regional Training Officers, other statewide stakeholders, and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) to develop an automated competency exam for applicants seeking certification as a juvenile probation officer. Beginning September 1, 2016, all individuals seeking a new certification as a juvenile probation officer are required to successfully pass the automated JPO Certification Exam prior to being certified by TJJD.

TJJD worked in partnership with CMIT and two urban departments to pilot the exam over a five-month period. A total of 52 people took the test during the pilot, equating to 22% of the total number of new JPO certifications from last fiscal year. The pilot allowed TJJD to gather data to adequately address major issues before the exam went live statewide.

The exam is comprised of 60 total questions. Twenty questions are the same for each exam and were determined to be the most important. An additional 40 questions are randomly generated with at least three questions from each mandatory topic. Probation departments can best prepare staff for the exam by using the most current training material and curriculum from TJJD’s Training Resource webpage.

The exam costs $20 per person/per attempt that is made payable to Sam Houston State University (not TJJD). TJJD left the discretion of payment to the hiring authority on how this fee is paid. Last fiscal year, there were a total of 234 new juvenile probation officers certified statewide.

If an employee takes JPO Basic through CMIT, the exam is proctored by staff at CMIT on the final day of basic training. Departments providing their own training will proctor the exam. When an applicant takes the exam, the score will be sent to the applicant, the department’s designated proctor and TJJD. Applicants will have three attempts to pass the exam. Those needing to register as a proctor should contact TJJD at exam@tjjd.texas.gov.

At this time, TJJD is only implementing the certification exam for juvenile probation officers. The Juvenile Justice Training Academy will pilot an exam for juvenile supervision officers no sooner than January 2017, with an anticipated effective date of September 1, 2017. The JSO exam will be taken by significantly more staff; it is a goal of the Juvenile Justice Training Academy to make the JSO exam available for a reduced or no cost. TJJD will send out additional information as it becomes available.

TJJD has developed a number of resources to assist departments with implementing the JPO Certification Exam. All information may be found on the Training Academy’s website here. As with any new process, this is a work in progress. TJJD will continue to analyze the data as people take the exam to ensure the fidelity and appropriateness of the test questions and the exam meets our intended goals. TJJD looks forward to continued feedback.

For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas.gov.







Popular posts from this blog

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer  McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack.    When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves),   and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said.   “In case a youth i
Read more

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we
Read more

Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s
Read more