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

During the visit, guards saw Randall try to pass a blue balloon to her son, a deputy probation officer wrote in the report.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

The family’s claim alleges the clinician’s conduct “went overlooked and unreported for months” and that the teenager’s probation officer has changed at least four times since his release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

She spoke to the BBC about it in 2021, describing how she eventually turned away from a life of crime to become a probation officer.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

It takes more than a year to train a probation officer.

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

One to a parent or guardian, the other to your employer if you have a job, or your probation officer if you’re on probation.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater