Established in 1952, the Probation Officers Association of Ontario (POAO) is a voluntary non-profit organization representing the professional interests of the Probation Officers and Probation and Parole Officers across the Province of Ontario. The POAO is not a union. The POAO is an association of like-minded professionals who believe in the work they do and the role they play in the criminal justice community in Ontario.
Click here to open the POAO's Constitution.
Mission
The POAO Constitution outlines the objectives of the POAO:
- To speak with credibility on issues in criminal justice.
- Facilitate increased understanding of the specialized role of the Probation Officer.
- Provide representative perspectives on legislative issues to policy makers.
- Provide a forum for exchange of professional experience and opinion.
- Promote good fellowship and esprit de corps among members.
- Foster goodwill, understanding, and cooperation with others working in the criminal justice system.
- Educate and involve the community in corrections.
Through
professional development, education, fellowship and policy design, the
Association is an autonomous representative of Probation Officers in this
province. POAO is committed to the preservation of the fundamental role
of the Probation Officer within community corrections. At the same time,
we are supportive of efforts for positive changes. In order to maintain
our credibility and professional status, we are proactive in addressing issues
and concerns as they arise.
Values
In
conducting its business, the POAO subscribes to the following set of values:
- that Probation Officers achieve professional status and continue to receive ongoing education;
- that it's members are fully committed to a Code of Ethics;
- that community corrections programs retain their validity as an effective means of rehabilitation for offenders;
- that autonomy be maintained, while at the same time the responsibilities of the Ministries, OPSEU, and other components of the criminal justice system be acknowledged;
- that involvement in the decision-making process be democratic and participatory at all levels.
Today, the Ontario Government employs Probation Officers in the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and in the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. There are more than 1,100 Probation/Parole Officers in the Province supervising adult offenders and young persons. In the adult system, in Ontario, 800 probation officers in 125 offices provide supervision more than 56, 000 adult offenders in the community who are on probation, conditional sentences and parole. In addition there are approximately 10, 000 young persons, with the majority under supervision of approximately 384 Youth Probation Officers.
Probation Officers and Probation and Parole Officers supervise probation orders, parole, conditional sentences and conditional supervision orders. They monitor and enforce compliance with these court orders and others such as restitution to victims and community service orders. These professionals prepare detailed and comprehensive pre-sentence reports for the Court. They also prepare pre-parole reports for the Ontario Parole and Earned Release Board.
In order to assist the offender and the community, Probation Officers and Probation and Parole Officers provide counselling and often broker/advocate for counselling and other treatment services such as life skills and vocational counselling. Probation Officers provide case management functions, even while offenders are in custody in order to provide that very essential link between the facility and the community.
In order to carry out their tasks effectively, Probation Officers and Probation and Parole Officers must be educated and well informed about the latest correctional practices. All officers in the Province hold, as a minimum, a university degree in one of the social sciences; many officers have completed graduate degrees. Everyday these professionals interact with other professionals in the criminal justice community such as the police, the judiciary, crown attorneys, defence counsel, school officials, mental health professionals and various community partners. Officers must have superior writing skills, excellent communication and assessment skills, a strong sense of community and of client advocacy.
POAO members are committed to the job they do and the role they play in the criminal justice community in Ontario. This voluntary professional Association is a tangible example of that commitment.