The Massachusetts Probation Service
Massachusetts Probation Service Fact Sheet

What is Probation?
What is a Probation Officer?
What is the Role of Probation?
What is the Office of Commissioner of Probation?

What is Probation?

Probation is a court-ordered sanction placed on a person convicted of a crime. The offender is allowed to remain in the community under the strict supervision of a probation officer. Massachusetts is the birthplace of probation, which was created by an industrious Boston shoemaker named John Augustus in 1841. Probation officially became part of the court system in 1878.

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What is a Probation Officer?

An integral part of the community, a probation officer provides protection and service through the enforcement of court orders and the investigation, supervision and monitoring of offenders. Probation officers provide up-to-date information and recommendations to the courts. In 2000 (calendar year), there were 158,112 adults and juveniles under the active supervision of a probation officer.

What is the Role of Probation?

The Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) is a department of the Massachusetts Trial Court System and one of three offices operated by the Administrative Office of the Trial Court. The other office is the Office of the Jury Commissioner.

Probation officers in the District and Superior Court probation departments supervise criminal cases. Felony cases are handled by the Superior Court. There are 12 Superior Courts and 70 District Court probation officers statewide.

Officers assigned to Juvenile Court supervise delinquency, youthful offenders, neglect and abuse and Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases. There are 11 divisions of the Juvenile Court Department in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin/Hampshire, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties.

In Probate and Family Court, officers handle civil matters such as divorce and paternity and issues involving custody, visitation and child support. There are 12 Probate and Family Court probation departments statewide.

What is the Office of the Commissioner of Probation?

The Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP), located in Boston, serves as the central administrative office for the Massachusetts Probation Service, the Office of Community Corrections and the Office of Community Service.

Appointed by the Chief Justice for Administration and Management, the Commissioner establishes standards for probation practice, provides training to probation personnel, and qualifies individuals for appointment as probation officers. The Commissioner's Office also conducts research on statewide crime and delinquency trends.

The Massachusetts Probation Service works in collaboration with the community and local agencies to provide innovative programs and services that directly benefit residents. The following is a partial listing of programs run by probation officers and the Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP).

• Community Service.
• Warrant Apprehension.
• Fatherhood and Mother's Programs.
• The Night Light Program.
• Anger Management Program.
• Volunteer Programs.