What Are the Duties of a Probation Officer?

Probation officers are agents of the court tasked with supervising individuals given probation sentences after committing a legal infraction. The terms of probation usually require the offender to abide by the law and refrain from certain types of behavior, and the probation officer strives to make sure the obligations are met at all times.

Supervision

Probation officers take an active interest in assigned offenders by meeting with them and their family members regularly, giving advice, and keeping up with events and activities in their lives.

Rehabilitation

To help offenders establish and maintain a law-abiding life, probation officers collaborate with social services departments to identify relevant counseling, educational, employment, housing and training opportunities.

Monitoring

When offenders are assigned an electronic monitoring device, probation officers must keep track of their whereabouts by continually checking the device's status.

Reports

Probation officers research offenders' background and evaluate their behavior during probation to write pre-sentence reports that assist the court in determining appropriate punishment.

Testimony

Providing information about offenders and the details in their pre-sentence reports is sometimes required at parole board and court hearings.

Resources

• The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)