probation officer
27
4.4
- noun
- /prəˈbeɪʃən ˈɔfɪsər/
:
agente de libertad condicional
- The probation officer is responsible for ensuring that offenders follow the rules of their release.
- police and probation officers
- juvenile probation officers
- adult probation officers
I get an e-mail from my probation officer, which already I feel doesn't like me.
- I get an e-mail from my probation officer, which already I feel doesn't like me.
- Yeah, he got recalled in prison because he went into the probation office and they let him into the room to see his probation officer.
- So I'm going over my paperwork and I'm reading my, my, my report that my probation officer had left.
- When I I'm probation officer, she said, I found your grandparents, your dad's mum and dad.
Examples
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You will be appointed a probation officer to monitor your progress.
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As I thought of John's predicament, I wondered about his relationship with his probation officer.
Academic text (1992) -
I had to bring my probation officer with me.
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I was just seeing my probation officer.
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The probation officer will make certain of that.
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You could go to the judge, go to your probation officer, and try to work out a deal.
Academic text (1992) -
Now, I want you to report to your probation officer weekly and pay your fine on time.
Academic text (1992) -
Have you visited your probation officer as directed?
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Your probation officer called.
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A plain-speaking New Englander with 30 years' experience as a probation officer, White works with female offenders.
Academic text (1995)
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'probation' (court-ordered supervision) modifies 'officer' (an appointed official), so a 'probation officer' is plainly an official responsible for supervising people on probation. This noun–noun combination follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Probation officer comes from the idea of probation as a 'trial period' and officer meaning a person in charge. A probation officer literally watches, checks, and helps someone during that trial so the court can decide if they can 'stay free', which is why today it means the person who looks after people released on probation.