Harland Jones
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Bowie County, Texas
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Graduating from college.
Gaining employment as an adult probation officer.
Marriage and children.
Divorce and raising children.
Retirement...and realizing six months later I was bored.
Acceptance to law school.
Cancer.
Graduating from law school and passing the bar exam.
Education
High School
Texas Senior High School
Texas Senior High School
Graduate
Juris Doctor
William H. Bowen School of Law (Univ. of Ark. Little Rock)
Juris Doctor
William H. Bowen School of Law (Univ. of Ark. Little Rock)
Career
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Responsible for the day to day operations of a juvenile probation department.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Law
Government
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
As Chief, I am responsible for setting policy and procedures for the department. I review case files prior to submitting them to the prosecutor's office. I make court appearances for detention, adjudication and disposition hearings. I am the primary contact person for schools, other agencies and the community in general. I routinely meet with judges, lawyers and parents of juveniles. Along with staff, we engage in strategic planning for the department.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Graduate
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"Why would you want to be working with a bunch of criminals? You're a licensed attorney; why not practice law where you could make a lot of money? "
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Physical Issues
Self Doubt
