Juvenile Probation Officer Roles: A Statutory Analysis

• In Event: Contemporary Reform and Policy Issues in Juvenile Justice

Abstract

Juvenile probation officers serve a vital role in the justice system. They are responsible for assisting their youthful charges while protecting society from criminal acts. Over the past twenty years, as the juvenile justice system has moved from an emphasis on punishment to a more balanced approach, juvenile probation officer roles have changed. In this paper we examine the legal codes for all fifty states and the District of Columbia in an effort to discern how the legally prescribed functions of juvenile probation officers have changed over time. We also review the literature to discern whether these state codes are in congruence with what is recommended, what is perceived, and what is carried out. In doing so we hope to answer the question “Where is juvenile probation today?”

Authors

• Ciara McGlynn, Washington State University

• Ming-Li Hsieh, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

• Moana Hafoka, Dixie State University

• Youngki Woo, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

• Craig Hemmens, Washington State University

• Mary K. Stohr, Washington State University