probation officer

American  

noun

probation officers plural

1. an officer who investigates and reports on the conduct of offenders who are free on probation.

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probation officer British  

noun

1. an officer of a court who supervises offenders placed on probation and assists and befriends them

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• probation officers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of probation officer

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

probation officer

"Something that I noticed was the relationship that the service user actually has with the probation officer," he said.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

One probation officer told BBC News: "We can't cope now, God knows how we'll cope if these recommendations are accepted. I'm already looking for another job. It's just not possible to do all this work."

From BBC ● May 22, 2025

It wasn’t until last October that authorities arrested Austin, an Oregon probation officer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025

“It’s almost as if the probation officer is one of the kids,” Gunsberg said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025

It’s unclear how Tate was able to persuade Holman’s warden to house two pretrial detainees on death row, although Tate knew people at the prison from his days as a probation officer.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson