History of Probation Services

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Probation was a welcome option for many people during the Middle Ages. Punishments were harshly imposed on children and adults. The offenses were minor and the punishments severe: flogging, mutilation, branding and execution. John Augustus is credited for the term probation. It is from the Latin verb "probare" meaning to prove, to test.

Leading to Probation

In the Middle Ages, the discontent with the manner in which the justice system was issuing punishment caused significant changes. Sources of protection from harsh sentences included royal pardons, refraining from applying statuses, lenient interpretations of statuses, devaluing of stolen property, receiving pardons from clergy, sanctuary and judicial reprieve.

These sources of protection from harsh sentences led to a temporary release of the criminals to work on securing full pardons or at least a less severe sentence.

The Beginning of Probation

In the 1700s, the United States had a different view of what processes should take place in the criminal justice system. Good aberrance, also known as "security for good behavior," allowed an accused person to pay a fee as a promise to deliver good behavior. This was the beginning of the modern bail system. The use of case filing in the courts, in which an immediate sentence was not needed, allowed judges the ability to have charges dismissed due to errors in the process and suspend sentences of some criminals. These changes in the justice system were the beginning stages of probation.

Augustus

John Augustus is recognized as the first probation officer and thusly titled "Father of Probation". Augustus, a boot maker from Massachusetts during the nineteenth century, believed alcoholics could change their behavior with understanding and kindness instead of conviction and jail time. Augustus bailed out an alcoholic and three weeks later, the alcoholic was completely changed in appearance and behavior. Augustus was a volunteer probation officer in Massachusetts for 18 years. Augustus spent time reviewing offenders and taking into consideration their age, environmental influences and other aspects of their situation to determine if they would be candidates for probation.

In 1859, as a direct result of John Augustus' work in probation services, Massachusetts enacted the first probation statute and as a result probation made a gradual move across the United States. The juvenile courts were instrumental in bringing probation into the system as a legal route of dealing with criminals.

Modern Probation

Every state has its own structure of the probation system. A number of probation and parole services are combined in some states, some states choose state-administered and some locally administered probation systems.

Duties

Probation officers prepare Presentence Investigation Reports, otherwise known as social histories and supervise probationers. As probation officers supervise the actions of the probationers, attention is paid to adherence to the special conditions of their probation agreement. If a violation of the probation agreement has occurred, a hearing is set and sentencing recommendations are made by the probation officer.

Costs

The costs society pays for an individual on probation are significantly less than incarceration. Incarceration can cost upwards of $25,000 per year versus $200 per year for probation. A portion of probation fees are recouped in a number of states by charging a monthly supervision fee to the probationer. Probationers are often ordered to pay restitution to the victims for the crimes committed.

Probation also saves money in the long run as families can stay together and in most cases can remain off welfare programs as the probationer can be employed while on probation.