A criminal-justice professional who supervises offenders serving sentences in the community.
What probation officers do
Probation officers supervise people on probation or parole, conduct home visits, monitor compliance with court conditions, refer clients to treatment and job programs, and respond to violations. They write presentence and progress reports for judges.
Training path
Most US probation officers hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, or psychology. They complete agency academies covering law, ethics, defensive tactics, and case management. Many states require state certification and ongoing training.
Settings
Probation officers work in state and county probation departments, federal probation offices, juvenile justice agencies, and parole boards. Specialized officers focus on drug courts, mental health courts, sex offenders, gangs, and reentry programs.
Find more professions by letter
Probation Officer starts with P and ends with R. Browse other professions along the same letter.
Professions that contain a letter from "Probation Officer":