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How can I turn my passion for assisting inmates into a successful career that combines criminal justice and ministry, as a probation officer" hashtag #Spring25?
My major is criminal justice, and my goal is to become a probation officer for adult inmates. I am committed to helping individuals rebuild their lives after being incarcerated. I believe true change is not just a result of legal consequences, but also personal growth - which for many starts with faith. I am currently working on creating a faith-based program that incorporates group discussions, real-life experiences, and biblical teachings to help inmates find a more meaningful path. I am seeking further education that combines my criminal justice background and my passion for spiritual leadership. I am looking for advice from individuals who have successfully integrated their professional careers with ministry or have had a positive impact on the justice system through faith-based methods.
Your support would help me make a bigger difference and reach more people, turning this passion into a job that helps others and makes a lasting impact in our communities.
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Michelle’s Answer
Cherry, you have such a worthwhile career interest and being a probation officer, getting that experience, would be perfect first, but it wouldn't be allowed to be mixed with faith based. You'd be working a job through the city, town or county. But once you get years of experience in probation, you're set for other things that can include faith based.
The college path for this would be to Major in Psychology, not Criminal Justice. Or maybe think about minoring in criminal justice, but the opportunity I was going to suggest later was you can open your own Re-entry Program for the clients after being a probation officer. This would be a community service that does exactly what you said you wanted to do and it can be faith based, too, if you create your own non-profit organization.
Think about what role you want in a community based Re-Entry program. Director ? Counselor ? Therapist ? Your degree will really depend on what role you'd want and Psychology would be a safe bet, even to be a probation officer. You see, you will need to be a great counselor as well as understand human behavior and all the million things that entails. A Criminal Justice degree would not prepare you for that, so consider Psychology. You'd definitely get some courses in Abnormal Psych, Anti-Social Behavior, Addiction and the Criminal Mind through a Psychology Major. Many of your clients will have a chronic mental health diagnosis and/or addiction. You'll learn a lot about this population along the way and in various ways. Your interest and goal combines psychology, counseling, biblical study and knowledge of non-profit organization management. Present this to a guidance counselor and see what the guidance counselor thinks about it.
Another reason that Psychology would be the Major is because you will need to develop very strong insight about people, a sharpened intuition and strong boundaries. You may have the best of intentions but some of this population can be really sweet and others can be chronically violent and vengeful. It's a rewarding population to work with but not always the smoothest. I was an intensive social service case manager at one time and have experience with this population that went well, but colleagues of mine didn't have it so smooth with this population. Just saying. So get the strong degree for Psychology - it will prepare you.
After you graduate college with your degree in Psychology (that degree will help for this too) start applying for Grants to fund the group you have already established. When applying for grant funding for a service such as yours, the donors may expect that you have a degree in Psychology. Sorry to re-direct you for a Major, but I want you to be able to have the knowledge as well as expected credentials for what you want to do. Counseling is more than pleasant conversation and you'd learn this skill with a psychology path, not through a criminal justice path.
As you go along, remember us here at Career Village and return for advice about anything that's on your mind. I wish you well in all you do.
The college path for this would be to Major in Psychology, not Criminal Justice. Or maybe think about minoring in criminal justice, but the opportunity I was going to suggest later was you can open your own Re-entry Program for the clients after being a probation officer. This would be a community service that does exactly what you said you wanted to do and it can be faith based, too, if you create your own non-profit organization.
Think about what role you want in a community based Re-Entry program. Director ? Counselor ? Therapist ? Your degree will really depend on what role you'd want and Psychology would be a safe bet, even to be a probation officer. You see, you will need to be a great counselor as well as understand human behavior and all the million things that entails. A Criminal Justice degree would not prepare you for that, so consider Psychology. You'd definitely get some courses in Abnormal Psych, Anti-Social Behavior, Addiction and the Criminal Mind through a Psychology Major. Many of your clients will have a chronic mental health diagnosis and/or addiction. You'll learn a lot about this population along the way and in various ways. Your interest and goal combines psychology, counseling, biblical study and knowledge of non-profit organization management. Present this to a guidance counselor and see what the guidance counselor thinks about it.
Another reason that Psychology would be the Major is because you will need to develop very strong insight about people, a sharpened intuition and strong boundaries. You may have the best of intentions but some of this population can be really sweet and others can be chronically violent and vengeful. It's a rewarding population to work with but not always the smoothest. I was an intensive social service case manager at one time and have experience with this population that went well, but colleagues of mine didn't have it so smooth with this population. Just saying. So get the strong degree for Psychology - it will prepare you.
After you graduate college with your degree in Psychology (that degree will help for this too) start applying for Grants to fund the group you have already established. When applying for grant funding for a service such as yours, the donors may expect that you have a degree in Psychology. Sorry to re-direct you for a Major, but I want you to be able to have the knowledge as well as expected credentials for what you want to do. Counseling is more than pleasant conversation and you'd learn this skill with a psychology path, not through a criminal justice path.
As you go along, remember us here at Career Village and return for advice about anything that's on your mind. I wish you well in all you do.
Thank you! I know there's still a lot to learn. I hope and pray that everything will come together. Additionally, I am pursuing a minor in Psychology and currently employed at a prison. I have had the opportunity to engage with the inmates, and their openness impresses me to my guidance. My goal is to become a Probation Officer and open a program once I learn the necessary steps.
Cherry
You're welcome ! Your plans sound wonderful !
Michelle M.
Updated
Tate’s Answer
What you're building is incredibly powerful - not just a career path, but a calling. You’re already living the blend of justice and mercy, accountability and redemption, system and spirit. The key now is channeling that conviction into something structured and sustainable.
First: you’re absolutely on the right track by majoring in criminal justice and aiming for a probation officer role. Probation officers are often some of the only people in the system who get consistent contact with individuals post-incarceration. That means you’re in a position to help someone build an entirely different life - not just avoid reoffending. The trick is using that space not just for surveillance, but for restoration - which is exactly where your faith-based work comes in. Your next move should be about giving your passion formal weight, and making sure the system will recognize and support it.
Look into Master’s programs that combine theology or divinity with clinical pastoral counseling, or even a pastoral care certificate alongside your criminal justice work. You don’t necessarily need a full M.Div unless you want to become a full-time minister, but some training in spiritual care or even trauma-informed ministry will make you more effective and credible - both to your clients and to institutions.
Community or correctional chaplaincy certification: Some programs offer chaplaincy specifically geared toward corrections. These give you theological depth and teach you how to work within carceral systems - language, boundaries, ethics, how to minister to people with complex trauma. It will also open doors if you ever want to collaborate with prison ministries officially or be recognized as a spiritual care provider within jails, probation systems, or reentry programs.
Start drafting your faith-based program into a concrete curriculum - structured sessions, outcomes, real-life testimonials, flexible ways it can be implemented either as group work or one-on-one mentorship. Partner with local churches, nonprofits, or parole boards who are open to alternative programs. Maybe even pilot it with a local reentry center. If your program gets results - meaning, people feel changed, recidivism is lowered, lives shift - that’s your strongest credential.
Network with faith-based justice organizations: groups like Prison Fellowship, Kairos Prison Ministry, or Healing Communities USA have already paved paths that combine Christian faith with justice work.
Use the probation role as a platform, not a limitation: once you’re working as a probation officer, you’ll be in a position to influence policy from the inside.
First: you’re absolutely on the right track by majoring in criminal justice and aiming for a probation officer role. Probation officers are often some of the only people in the system who get consistent contact with individuals post-incarceration. That means you’re in a position to help someone build an entirely different life - not just avoid reoffending. The trick is using that space not just for surveillance, but for restoration - which is exactly where your faith-based work comes in. Your next move should be about giving your passion formal weight, and making sure the system will recognize and support it.
Tate recommends the following next steps:
Thank you! I am grateful for the information you have provided.
Cherry