Roles of Juvenile Probation Officer
Page 1
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Professor Janette Nichols
Juvenile Justice
Axia College (University of Phoenix)
May 22, 2008
Marla Ognyanov
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Page 2
The Juvenile Court process is a very complex and often
misunderstood system. This information is presented from the rules of
Houston County, (Dothan, Alabama), and provides the role and
responsibilities of the Office of Juvenile Probation.
According to Traci Meredith, Houston County Juvenile Probation
Officer, Houston County’s Juvenile Probation Officers are responsible
for the guidance and supervision of juveniles between the ages of 10
through 19 years of age that were either referred by local law
Enforcement agencies or private citizens as a result of having
committed a crime which is considered to be a misdemeanor or a
felony. Additionally, probation officers insure that juveniles who are
placed on probation abide by their probation rules, receive appropriate
Court related services, are referred to other community services when
necessary and coordinate with schools, agencies, employment/training
programs and other services within the community.
All juveniles referred in Houston County are processed through the
Juvenile Court Intake Unit. The Juvenile Intake Officer is responsible
for screening and investigating the referral, determining the method of
handling and making referrals to other agencies when appropriate.
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Page 3
This process usually involves not only an interview with the child, but
with the parents, school personnel,) and the referring party.
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Professor Janette Nichols
Juvenile Justice
Axia College (University of Phoenix)
May 22, 2008
Marla Ognyanov
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Page 2
The Juvenile Court process is a very complex and often
misunderstood system. This information is presented from the rules of
Houston County, (Dothan, Alabama), and provides the role and
responsibilities of the Office of Juvenile Probation.
According to Traci Meredith, Houston County Juvenile Probation
Officer, Houston County’s Juvenile Probation Officers are responsible
for the guidance and supervision of juveniles between the ages of 10
through 19 years of age that were either referred by local law
Enforcement agencies or private citizens as a result of having
committed a crime which is considered to be a misdemeanor or a
felony. Additionally, probation officers insure that juveniles who are
placed on probation abide by their probation rules, receive appropriate
Court related services, are referred to other community services when
necessary and coordinate with schools, agencies, employment/training
programs and other services within the community.
All juveniles referred in Houston County are processed through the
Juvenile Court Intake Unit. The Juvenile Intake Officer is responsible
for screening and investigating the referral, determining the method of
handling and making referrals to other agencies when appropriate.
Roles of a Juvenile Probation Officer
Page 3
This process usually involves not only an interview with the child, but
with the parents, school personnel,) and the referring party.
References: Meredith, Traci (Houston County Juvenile Probation Officer), Interviewed May 20th, 2008. Houston County Alabama, Department of Juvenile Probation, 2008.