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 report makes clear we're overworked. And it's only going to get worse with more people set to do their punishment in the community," one probation officer said.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

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

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

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

Ironically, Ms. Gruwell chose him to play Rufus’s probation officer.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers