The primary role of probation is the enforcement of non-custodial punishment or rehabilitative measures handed out to juveniles. Petty and first-time offenders are sentenced to probation duties, which are supervised by probation officers.
Probation officers play a critical role in all stages of the case to determine the course of action and the outcomes. They assess cases referred to them or the juvenile court by juvenile officers to decide whether they are strong enough to be formally heard by the court. They also prepare presentencing and predisposition reports that inform the judge of juvenile offenders' background information to determine appropriate judgment. Once the judgment is delivered, the probation officers enforce the probation duties delivered by controlling and supervising the offenders. Such is done by monitoring and conducting follow-up investigations reported to relevant authorities such as the juvenile court. They also broker resources that are required to rehabilitate the offenders. This includes matching available communal resources with offenders' needs, like enrolling emotionally disturbed offenders to therapy providers. Such helps to address the causes of delinquency in some youths indirectly. Probation officers also serve social service functions, such as guidance and mentoring. They talk to and advise the offenders in a kid and thoughtful manner that encourages some offenders to change their behaviors.
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Youth offenders who can receive care and maintain social bonds will be less likely to re-offend (recidivism). A study showed that those sentenced to in-home probation were less likely to be arrested again compared to those in group-home placement and probation camps (Ryan et al., 2014). More restrictive settings thus harm young offenders since they lose social ties and become more hardened. Therefore, probation being less restrictive than jails, and the fact that offenders are monitored, mentored, and provided with communal resources will help reduce recidivism.
References
Ryan, J. P., Abrahams, L. S. & Huang, H. (2014). First-time violent juvenile offenders: Probation, placement and Recidivism. Social Work Research , 38 (1), 7-8, https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svu004
