Thread: Louisiana P&P vs. South Carolina P&P (adult)

I have received positive recommendations for both states. Any members care to contribute their opinions, positives and negatives? What is caseload like in each state, and are they LE-oriented or social work-oriented? Any salary/promotional issues in these states? How is overtime handled (comp or x1.5)? And, of course, what is retirement like in these states?

Also, what is the cost-of-living like in LA and SC?

Feel free to chime-in with hearsay, though I ask that you also provide info about the quality of the hearsay.

Thanks all, and stay safe.
- Steve

PS: Also, what is training like (what is required) in these states, as well as length of initial training? Are these two states in rapid hiring status, or does it take a significant amount of time to complete the hiring process?

Originally Posted by williamssd

I have received positive recommendations for both states. Any members care to contribute their opinions, positives and negatives? What is caseload like in each state, and are they LE-oriented or social work-oriented? Any salary/promotional issues in these states? How is overtime handled (comp or x1.5)? And, of course, what is retirement like in these states?

Also, what is the cost-of-living like in LA and SC?

Feel free to chime-in with hearsay, though I ask that you also provide info about the quality of the hearsay.

Thanks all, and stay safe.
- Steve

PS: Also, what is training like (what is required) in these states, as well as length of initial training? Are these two states in rapid hiring status, or does it take a significant amount of time to complete the hiring process?

I will try to answer some of your question since I was once a P&P officer for Louisiana.


I was in the Jefferson Parish district. I think the caseload for me pre-Katrina was about 120 offenders. My district was Law enforcement oriented, however we did have a couple of agents who were very much social work driven, however they usually were frustrated and left quickly. Salary pretty much sucked or I would still be there. I loved the job but just got tired of living on peanuts. Something likes 2000 a month if I can recall. I was there for 3 years and I believe when I left I was earning $27000 a year. I did have a take home car though. One of my friends who is still their told me they recently got a $6000 raise recently. I believe he has about 10 years in and is currently making about 50,000 a year. When I was there all you got was comp time for working over 8 hrs a day, at 1.5 hours per hour worked. No over time at all, however I believe they are currently allowed some overtime per week now. I do not believe it is no more than 5 hours of overtime a week though. Not 100% sure on that. Cost of living in New Orleans has seen a major price hike in housing since Katrina. Most people are moving to the north shore where housing is a little more reasonable but still your homeowners insurance with rape you.
Also all agents must go through an approved Louisiana Post Academy, which will be sponsored by P&P. You will receive the same training as all Law enforcement officers who enforce state and local laws within the state.

Hope this info helps let me know if I can answer any other questions. The state retirement was very good. It was like you 3 1/3% for every year of service. Therefore, if you worked 30 years you got 100% of your salary for life.

Thanks much, uscs344. That's a lot of info I was looking for.

My experience includes local/state LE, along with a "brief" time with USBP (before my academy injury -- nothing serious thankfully). I always thought all P&P agencies were the "hold your hand", social work-types. My family/friends in these two areas are saying it is not -- much more LE-oriented like you've stated.

The POST training is good to hear, since it shows that although the pay isn't the best the agency respects its employees enough to recognize them as law enforcement officers.

I'm fortunately in a position where pay isn't the primary concern (I thought I saw somewhere they start at around 30k now); I've experienced many opportunities and am now looking to work at and retire from a good agency.

Any thoughts on their testing/hiring process?

Take care, and thanks again.
- Steve

I'm a North Carolina P&P Officer and end up working with SC on transfer of cases fairly often. I know that SC completely changed their methods and policies a few years ago. They are now a Class B law enforcement officer (with Class A being the traditional sheriff/police departments). SC P&P goes through the police academy training but their standards for passing are different (truthfully, lower) than what a Class A cadet has to do to pass. For example, both types of recruits must run 1.5 miles. Class A recruits have a time they must perform within while P&P pass as long as they complete it (no time set). I have no idea what benefits look like for them.

Call up a SC office and ask if a line officer has a minute to chat with you about their duties. All they can say is no. College students have called my office a few times asking for job info. I've always been happy to chat.

Originally Posted by williamssd

Thanks much, uscs344. That's a lot of info I was looking for.

My experience includes local/state LE, along with a "brief" time with USBP (before my academy injury -- nothing serious thankfully). I always thought all P&P agencies were the "hold your hand", social work-types. My family/friends in these two areas are saying it is not -- much more LE-oriented like you've stated.

The POST training is good to hear, since it shows that although the pay isn't the best the agency respects its employees enough to recognize them as law enforcement officers.

I'm fortunately in a position where pay isn't the primary concern (I thought I saw somewhere they start at around 30k now); I've experienced many opportunities and am now looking to work at and retire from a good agency.

Any thoughts on their testing/hiring process?

Take care, and thanks again.
- Steve

Here is the announcment with the office that I use to work for. Like I said most of my info is a little dated, but I still talk to alot of the guys that still work in this office. You can research them by going to the louisana civil service web site. I've included this link if it helps. P&P had a high turn over rate from what I remember, mostly because of the money. I would still be there if the money was better.

http://www.civilservice.la.gov/asp/c...earch/jobs.asp

Job Title: Duties and Qualifications
PROB/PAR OFFICER 1/ADULT Agency:
Corrections-Adult Probation and Parole

Parish: JEFFERSON City: Harvey
Application Deadline: 12/31/2100 Pay Level: P109
Agency Tracking Number:
Announcement Number: 38176 Minimum Monthly: $2504.67
Maximum Monthly: $4826.00
Series/Card Min Score
7333/03
Occupational Group:
LAW ENFORCEMENT & INVESTIGATIONS
Scoring Method: Procedure Details
This register uses a written test.
Type of Vacancy:
Probational/Original Deadline: 12/31/2100
Promotion-Department/Agency-wide Deadline: 12/31/2100

How To Apply:

This position is open for application on a Continuous basis and will be filled as a new hire. You must make specific application for this job announcement or you cannot be considered. Application MUST be made on the official form (SF-10), which may be obtained from the Department of Civil Service in Baton Rouge. Candidates outside of this area may obtain applications from their Human Resources Office or any Job Service Office. It may be downloaded from the Civil Service website at http://www.civilservice.louisiana.go...s/downform.htm.



You must have a current score of at least 50 for the 7333 PET Test Series and submit a copy of that grade with your application.



Submit applications to Desha Walden, Human Resources, Probation and Parole, P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9304. Please indicate Job Title and Announcement Number on your application. See Special Notes below for more important information about filling this position. Do not apply to Civil Service.



Special Notes:

*** This position has a Special Entrance Rate of $ 2504.67 per month.***

Direct Hire posting – DO NOT APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE.



Applicants must send their pre-employment application (SF-10), copy of their Civil Service Professional Entry Test (PET) score* , official college** transcript and military DD214 (if applicable) to the Human Resource Office by the closing date of this announcement in order to be considered for employment.

*NOTE: Even if you are a current state employee or an inactive state employee with re-employment eligibility, you MUST submit a copy of your PET score.



**NOTE: Only the official college transcript will be accepted, do not submit unofficial transcripts.



The PET score MUST be for the new series 7333/03 – PET JOBS and it MUST be a 50 or above to be considered for a position. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifcations (click on Job Specification in job title block above to see qualifications and special requirements).



An application MUST include the Job Title and Announcement Number or it will be Rejected. Only ONE job title and announcement number are allowed per application. An application with multiple job titles and/or announcement numbers will be Rejected.

Your application will be rejected if all required documentation is not provided.



SPECIAL NOTES:



The selected candidate must take and pass a drug screen test prior to appointment.



AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER



A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

Call South Carolina. I called and I was able to speak with HR about the job and I was invited to come down to speak with their agents. They also sent a package to my house with testing info and job info. They give a great presentation but the money is just not enough for me to relocate. I would have been taking a $16,000 pay cut. It always appears to me that the more LE oriented a P/PO agency is, the less money they make .
I was thinking about going to Louisiana for the job but but their pay vs. cost of living did not look like it was worth the risk for me.