ABSTRACT

In this chapter, we present a brief history of probation followed by a discussion of the traditional probation officer roles discussed in the literature. Next, we present the contemporary research on probation officer roles and their relationship to evidence-based practice implementation. We then present a case study examining probation officer perceptions of their role orientation within an agency that had been implementing best practices for over eight years. Lastly, we offer some discussion about the implications evidence-based practices use in probation work has for the development and modification of probation officer roles.