A probation officer is a person who supervises people who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to probation in lieu of or in addition to imprisonment. A probation officer often assists offenders with finding social services and seeking employment. But, a probation officer is also responsible for reporting probation violations to the court and may testify against an offender.
A probation officer is typically employed by a jurisdiction’s—whether state or federal—department of justice. Placing offenders on probation, especially first-time offenders, is a popular alternative to imprisonment.
A probation officer acts as an added layer of security for the community, supervising offenders, but also helping offenders develop the tools that they need to succeed as law-abiding citizens. A probation officer functions much like a social worker. Other responsibilities include preparing pre-sentence investigations for the courts and making recommendations to the courts about how to treat an individual offender.