What Is the Purpose of a Probation Officer in California?
Numerous criminal offenders--both adults and juveniles--are sentenced to terms of probation in the state of California. These individuals are supervised by duly appointed probation officers. Probation officers in California actually serve a number of purposes as defined California law and rules of the court.
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Function
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The primary purpose of a probation officer in California is to supervise men and women sentenced to a term of community-based corrections by a California state court.
Types
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Under California law, there are two general types of probation officers. The most common type of probation officer in California deals with individuals serving sentences of probation. A smaller number of probation officers prepare pre-sentencing reports for courts.
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Resources
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In addition to supervising an individual serving a sentence of probation, a probation officer is also an offender resource. An officer is charged with guiding an offender on finding or maintaining employment, for example.
Interesting Fact
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The Los Angeles County Probation Department is the largest single probation department in the entire world. In 2009, the department staff included nearly 6,000 employees at 50 locations in Los Angeles County.
History
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Probation as a sentence for offenders was introduced in the state of California in 1903. Within a short period of the creation of California probation laws, probation became the most common sentence handed down by courts in the state.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gabriel Rivas
