Jennifer Corson is the probation officer and office manager for the Professional Probation Services office in Gardendale.

What does a probation officer do?

This is a misdemeanor probate office, so I mostly I just supervise the collection of court costs and fines by setting up payment plans for people. Sometimes the problems delve a little deeper, though, like if people have problems with drugs or alcohol. Although I can’t help them directly, I can encourage them toward programs that can help. “Probate officer” sounds like a negative title, but it doesn’t have to be.

How did you end up with your job?

A friend of mine has a degree in criminal justice, and it sounded like it was interesting so I pursued it, too. I’ve been doing it just over five years. I’ve met a lot of people that I might not have met otherwise, like people in the police department and the mayor. I’ve made a lot of friends in the court system.

Is your job stressful? How do you deal with it?

A probate office can be a very negative place. If people come in here, they’re probably in trouble, and they’re probably angry and stressed. It’s easy to take that home with you. I paint sometimes when I go home, and you don’t think about anything else while you do that. People also tell me I’m kind of a thrillseeker, that I’m always looking for the next exciting thing to do. I’ve been skydiving and whitewater rafting. I love to be outside. I was watching some people hang glide the other day, and I started thinking that might be my next thrill.

Do you have any family?

I am the middle child of three children, and my parents have been together for 30 years, which is something you don’t see as often, now. We also all live pretty close together, which I think is rare, too.