Probation Services University of Malta

Overview

The MA in Probation Services from University of Malta will equip you with the required skills for independent learning and develop the capacity to work both with others and autonomously. You will be enabled to develop a critical awareness of the social world and issues of social justice, particularly crime prevention and victimization and research-based interventions.

Taught lectures will teach you how to apply criminological theories to professional probation practice and gain the ability to engage in critical thinking/analysis. By gaining the knowledge, understanding, and capacity to use qualitative and quantitative research techniques for probation assessment and interventions, you will be prepared for progression to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses and Ph.D. programmes.

Career opportunities and access to further studies

• The main aim of the MA in Probation Services is to prepare you to work within the criminal justice system as probation officers. Besides providing you with required knowledge (with emphasis on probation and parole legislation, risk management, report writing and work ethics) the course attempts to strengthen your communication, leadership and team-building skills. You are also instructed on how to manage work-related stress.
• Probation / parole officers are court officials. They seek to rehabilitate sentenced offenders by enforcing the conditions of court orders, conduct offender risk assessments and advise the courts, managing and enforcing community orders as well as working with offenders during and after sentence. Thus probation / parole officers collaborate and work with various officers within as well as outside the criminal justice system (such as drug rehabilitation centres and employment training centres).