Probation Transformation

Probation transformation fundamentally reimagines with whom juvenile probation officers work and how they work.

Pro­ba­tion is court-ordered super­vi­sion of youth in the com­mu­ni­ty that can last from months to years. It is the most com­mon expe­ri­ence young peo­ple have with­in juve­nile jus­tice sys­tems and places restric­tions on what young peo­ple can do, who they can see and where they can go. Pro­ba­tion impos­es rules — includ­ing cur­few, school atten­dance and drug-test­ing man­dates — on youth. Break­ing these rules can result in fur­ther restric­tions, return to court and even incarceration.

Why Trans­form Juve­nile Probation?

Evi­dence shows sur­veil­lance- and com­pli­ance-ori­ent­ed pro­ba­tion doesn’t reha­bil­i­tate youth despite the ded­i­ca­tion and good inten­tions of pro­ba­tion pro­fes­sion­als. As it’s cur­rent­ly designed, pro­ba­tion often pulls young peo­ple — even those with first-time or low-lev­el offens­es — deep­er into the legal sys­tem with­out offer­ing the sup­port and guid­ance that would put them on the right path and reduce the like­li­hood of re-arrest. Pro­ba­tion also plays a large role in the con­tin­u­ing over­rep­re­sen­ta­tion of Black, Indige­nous and Lati­no youth in youth jus­tice systems.

What Is Juve­nile Pro­ba­tion Transformation?

Pro­ba­tion trans­for­ma­tion fun­da­men­tal­ly reimag­ines how pro­ba­tion offi­cers work and with whom they work. Pro­ba­tion trans­for­ma­tion exam­ines and address­es the bar­ri­ers to get­ting pro­ba­tion right, from an organization’s struc­ture and cul­ture to resources and rela­tion­ships. For young peo­ple to thrive, we need to respond more effec­tive­ly when they make mis­takes, even when they cause harm. This means mov­ing away from a cul­ture of pun­ish­ment toward more devel­op­men­tal­ly appro­pri­ate respons­es, includ­ing options that keep more kids away from the jus­tice system.

From the Blog

A diverse group of smiling adults gather outside of the Pierce County Juvenile Court Building.

Join Juvenile Probation Chiefs on Visit to Pierce County, Washington

Juvenile probation chiefs can apply to attend a site visit to Pierce County, Washington, a probation leader. Learn more.

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