PROBATION OFFICERS

Did you know?

TIn the 94 federal judicial districts nationwide, U.S. probation officers

play an integral role in the administration of justice. 

TU.S. probation officers constitute the community corrections arm of

the federal court system.

TU.S. probation officers provide to the court two important services:

investigation and supervision. 

U.S. probation officers make an important contribution to the

federal criminal justice process. Simply stated, their mission

is to investigate and supervise offenders whom the courts

have conditionally released to the community on probation,

parole, or supervised release. By serving as the court’s factfinder, controlling the risk offenders may pose to public

safety, and providing offenders with correctional treatment,

officers help ensure that persons previously convicted of

crime choose a law-abiding lifestyle rather than further

criminal behavior. Their responsibilities require them to work

not only with federal judges and other court professionals,

but with U.S. attorneys, defense attorneys, Federal Bureau of

Prisons and U.S. Parole Commission officials, state and local

law enforcement agents, treatment providers, and community

leaders. Officers deliver services that benefit the court, the

community, and the offender. Their primary duties are briefly

described below. 

1. The officer conducts a presentence investigation,

gathering and verifying important information about

the offender and the offense. 

By order of the court, the officer makes a thorough

investigation–a presentence investigation--into the

circumstances of the offense and the offender’s criminal

background and characteristics. The officer gathers

information in two ways: by conducting interviews and by

reviewing documents. The cornerstone of the investigation is

the interview with the offender, during which the officer

inquires about such things as the offender’s family,

education, employment, finances, physical and mental health,

and alcohol or drug abuse. The officer also conducts a home

visit to assess the offender’s living conditions, family

relationships, and community ties and to detect alcohol or

drugs in the home. 

Besides interviewing the offender, the officer interviews

other persons who can provide pertinent information about

the offender and the offense, including the defense counsel,

the prosecutor, law enforcement agents, victims, the

offender’s family and associates, employers, school officials,

doctors, and counselors. The officer also reviews various

records and reports, including court records, financial

records, criminal history transcripts, probation/parole/pretrial

services records, birth/marriage/divorce records, school

records, employment records, military service records, school

records, medical records, and counseling and treatment

records. The officer verifies the information gathered,

interprets and evaluates it, and presents it to the court in an

organized, objective report called the presentence report. 

2. The officer prepares a presentence report that

helps the court determine the appropriate sentence. 

The presentence report contains information about the

offense, the offender, the impact of the offense on the victim,

and sentencing options under the federal sentencing

guidelines. It also includes information about the offender’s

ability to pay fines and restitution. The primary purpose of the

report is to provide information that enables the court to

impose a fair sentence that satisfies the punishment,

deterrence, and corrective goals of sentencing. The officer

considers applicable statutes and the federal sentencing

guidelines, applies them to the facts of the case, and comes

up with a recommended sentence and a justification for it. 

Because the presentence report is so crucial to the

sentencing process, it must be accurate and distinguish

between information that is verified and unverified and

between fact and opinion. The presentence report not only

helps the court choose an appropriate sentence, but provides

important information to help with the following:

‘Federal Bureau of Prisons - Choosing the institution where the

offender will serve the sentence. Selecting prison programs that will

help the offender. Making the offender’s release plans.

‘U.S. Sentencing Commission - Providing information useful for

monitoring sentencing guidelines application. Providing information

useful for research.

‘U.S. Probation Officer Supervising the Offender - Assessing the risk

the offender poses. Assessing the offender’s needs.

3. The officer recommends the conditions under

which offenders are released to the community.

The officer proposes conditions of release in the presentence

report. These conditions help structure the offender’s

movement and behavior in the community. They address

many areas of the offender’s life, including personal,
financial, and health issues. The court imposes two kinds of

conditions: standard and special. Standard conditions apply

to all offenders. For example, they forbid the offender to

commit another federal, state, or local crime; require the

offender to report as directed to the probation officer; and

prohibit the offender’s use of alcohol or drugs. Special

conditions give the officer the authority to administer

additional sanctions and provide correctional treatment and

address specific risks the offender may present to himself or

herself, others, and the community in general. For example,

special conditions may require the offender to serve a period

of home confinement, undergo drug testing or treatment, or

disclose financial information. 

When supervision begins, the officer assigned to supervise

the offender fully explains the conditions of release and the

consequences of not complying with them. The offender

receives a written statement that sets forth the conditions. 

4. The officer supervises offenders in the community

to make sure they comply with court-ordered

conditions of release. 

Officers supervise, or monitor, all offenders conditionally

released to the community by the federal courts, the U.S.

Parole Commission, and military authorities. Community

supervision gives officers the means to carry out the court’s

sentence and to accomplish offender rehabilitation and public

safety goals. 

Officers hold weighty public safety responsibilities. In

supervising offenders, officers use risk control techniques

designed to detect and deter criminal behavior. Such

techniques include verifying employment, verifying income

sources, monitoring offenders’ associates, requiring

offenders to undergo drug testing, and restricting offenders’

travel. Also, if necessary, officers ask the court to modify

the supervision conditions to provide for home confinement,

financial disclosure, or other conditions to reduce risk. 

Supervision begins with assessing the offender, identifying

potential supervision problems, and making a supervision

plan. Assessment is a determination as to the potential risk

the offender poses and affects the amount of personal

contact the officer has with the offender. The supervision

plan identifies the offender’s problems and how to resolve

them. Problems are those circumstances that limit the

offender’s ability or desire to comply with supervision and

that directly affect the offender’s ability to complete

supervision successfully. Examples of such problems–and

supervision plans to address them–are shown in the chart on

this page. 

Officers periodically evaluate offenders’ responses to

supervision and revise supervision plans as necessary. 

Officers keep informed of the conduct and condition of

offenders throughout supervision; help them improve,

consistent with the court’s order; and keep records of

supervision activities. Offenders who do not comply with

supervision conditions face sanctions ranging from reprimand

to revocation proceedings. The most serious violations

include violations for new criminal conduct, violations that

compromise public safety, and absconding from supervision. 

Supervision problem Supervision plan

The offender is

unemployed and on

welfare. She has moved

four times in the past year. 

Her two children are having

problems at school.

Refer the offender to a community

agency that will teach her a

marketable skill. Make two

personal contacts per quarter to

require her participation in the job

program.

The offender has several

convictions for drunk

driving and assault and

battery where the

complainant was his wife.

Make twice monthly personal

contacts with the offender and his

wife to see if the offender is

drinking and how he interacts with

his family. Check with his

employer to see if alcohol abuse is

affecting his attendance or

performance. Refer him for an

evaluation to determine alcohol

abuse. 

Offender is a known gang

member with a history of

drug trafficking. 

See the offender twice a month at

his home or his job to monitor his

activities. Check regularly with the

police department’s intelligence

division to see if the offender is

associating with known criminals. 

Thoroughly investigate any

requests by the offender to travel

outside the district. 

5. The officer controls the risk offenders may pose

to themselves and others by providing correctional

treatment to help offenders become productive

members of the community. 

Officers provide correctional treatment that helps offenders

live law-abiding lives. These are activities designed to

rehabilitate offenders by changing behavior that contributes

to criminality and to reintegrate offenders into the community. 

Correctional treatment encompasses many services, including

drug or alcohol treatment, mental health treatment, educational

or vocational training, medical care, and employment

assistance. The officer’s job is to locate and use community

resources to address offender needs in these areas or to

arrange for services. 

6. The officer uses special skills, works with

particular caseloads, and takes on specialized

responsibilities to further investigation, supervision,

and officer safety goals. 

Some officers hold specialist positions or perform special

duties that require certain skills or expertise. Experience, onthe-job training, and training received from outside sources

prepare officers for such positions. For example, drug and

alcohol treatment specialists closely supervise drug- or

alcohol-dependent offenders, require them to undergo drug

testing and treatment, and arrange for appropriate treatment

such as detoxification or counseling. Mental health

treatment, home confinement, community service, sentencing

guidelines, financial investigation, employment, and firearms

are some other specialty areas. 

Office of Probation and Pretrial Services

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

 January 2003