They are required to sign the rules of probation and acknowledge a mutual understanding. In general, parents need to cooperate and simply be honest with probation staff about their child. Post the probation rules in an obvious place so the parent and child can see them. Parents should maintain consistent contact with the probation officer. Parents should do the same with their children s teachers if attendance or achievement is problematic.
Some parents are impossible to talk to because they are intimidated by probation.
Parents can be emotional people. My approach is that if you treat someone with respect, they should respond positively. Unfortunately, not everyone abides by that philosophy. Some parents can be downright nasty to us when we re trying to help. What type and how long a child will be on probation will depend on how much support we get from the parents.