Roles & Responsibilities of a Probation Officer

Probation officers are charged with supervising criminal offenders after offenders have been released from jail or prison. Probation officers are an important part of the criminal justice system.

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Supervision
- The primary role of probation officers is to supervise their charges and ensure that they are complying with the terms of probation. Defendants might be ordered to get a job, attend counseling or other rehabilitative meetings, submit to drug testing and make payments on their restitution. Released offenders are required to report to their probation agent regularly to report on their progress.
Report to the Court
- Probation agents monitor former inmates so they can report to the court regarding the success of the offender's release. Probation agents are responsible for reporting to the court any time one of their clients violates the terms of their probation. Probation agents often make suggestions to judges regarding a released offender's sentence and continuation on probation.
Rehabilitation
- Probation agents are also charged with helping released offenders reintegrate into society. This can mean anything from helping offenders find a job or a home to giving them advice on handling social situations.
Education
- Probation agents are also charged with giving former inmates skills to help them handle life outside of prison. Former offenders will need help applying for services, signing a lease and completing employment applications. Probation agents can also assist offenders with finding GED classes and other education options that are available.
Medical Care
- Probation agents often help released offenders find access to health care that is affordable and accessible. While health care would seem to be outside of the realm of probation, it is often necessary to help offenders because they had regular access to health care in prison and might require continued care outside of the system.
Drug and Alcohol Monitoring
- Former offenders will likely be ordered to abstain from drugs and alcohol as a condition of their probation. Probation agents will help offenders comply with this requirement by directing them to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other rehabilitative programs.
Counseling
- Probation agents are also responsible for advising offenders as they re-enter society. Probation agents that advise and counsel their clients often find they can increase the probability that their charges will successfully re-enter society.

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Roles & Responsibilities of a Probation Officer

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Supervision

Report to the Court

Rehabilitation

Education

Medical Care

Drug and Alcohol Monitoring

Counseling

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