Should probation officers be allowed to carry weapons while fulfilling their duties in the corrections system? At the present time, probation officers are only allowed to carry weapons in two-thirds of the fifty United States (Banks, 2013, p. 181). These professionals working in the community corrections field do not have the same power as police or correctional officers to use physical force, but I believe that they should be able to maintain the ability to carry a firearm for their own self-protection. There are some people who will argue that if a probation officer is carrying a gun that the probationers might perceive that the probation officer does not trust the probationer. I can understand that point of view and, I can also understand the point from the probation officers. These officers work around some of the most dangerous people in society. They also have to work in some of the most dangerous areas of the cities where these probationers often live. It is also true that in these treacherous areas there are other risks that the probation officers must face. There are other convicted felons, and there are other criminals who may want to rob the probation officers or steal their cars. I believe that probation officers have the same right to protect themselves as other citizens do, and by the state demanding that they be unarmed while performing their duties is putting the probation officer’s lives at risk.

     I can understand the psychological point of view that when probation officers are armed, the probationer may regard them as being more of a police officer than a probation officer, but the need to allow probation officers the ability to protect themselves far outweighs the probationer’s personal feelings. The probation officer can carry his weapon concealed and no one needs to know whether he is armed or not. These officers are given a good deal of authority in regard to the control they have over a probationer’s life, and they must make ethical decisions every day when dealing with their clients. Probation officers must make decisions which promote and facilitate the rehabilitation of the probationer, while at the same time make sure that he is taking into account the safety and security of the community. Some of these decisions may be detrimental to the probationer, and if the probationer is faced with going back to prison because of personal misconduct, he could become enraged and physically attack the probation officer or others around him. The protection of the community and the self-protection of the probation officer is the main reason why I believe that probation officers should be allowed to be armed.    


Resources:

Banks, C. (2013). Criminal justice ethics (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE.