We want them to complete school. Communication is an important part of the officer's involvement. Officers can provide school officials with factual information about the court's action in a case and advise on ways to comply with the court's orders. Officers work with judges to hold the young probationers accountable for their actions. In Rowan County, a judge has issued probation orders requiring eight hours of community service work for every unexcused school absence or day missed because of suspension from school.
Officers can also ask judges for curfews or electronic house arrest supervision.
Several counties are just beginning the program. All Division Three counties will take part in the program this year. The probation officer in the schools program began in Carteret County in 1993. Since its inception, the program has spread statewide building partnerships between probation officers and educators.