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

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

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

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

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

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025

Like a special psychologist or a probation officer.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña