Juvenile Probation

Juvenile probation services are organized in several ways. County social service departments frequently administer intake, investigation, and probation supervision services. Some counties separate intake and probation between local juvenile courts (intake) and county social services department (probation supervision). In a few counties probation services are funded by county social services departments but are administered by Circuit Courts. Counties with a population of 500,000 or more have the authority under statute to establish a Children’s Court Center to administer these services. Only Milwaukee County has a Children’s Court Center. Regardless of how the probation services are organized, social workers of county social services departments handle the bulk of juvenile probation supervision.

They do not carry a firearm. They are not classified as peace officers and do not have the power to arrest.

There is a policy that prohibits officers from carrying a firearm.

At the time of the survey, it was not under consideration to allow them to carry a firearm.

There are no private companies providing juvenile probation supervision services.

Juvenile Parole

Within the Executive Branch of state government, the Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Corrections is responsible for aftercare supervision, but many counties have opted to provide their own aftercare services. In counties that provide their own supervision, personnel are county employees.

Juvenile aftercare officers do not carry a firearm. They are not classified as peace officers and do not have the power to arrest.

There is a Division policy that prohibits them from carrying a firearm.

In 2000, line officers (mainly adult line officers) brought up the issue of carrying a firearm.

There are no private companies providing juvenile aftercare supervision.

Adult Probation and Parole

Under the Executive Branch, the Division of Community Corrections, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is responsible for adult probation and parole supervision. Agents generally have combined caseloads.

Agents do not carry a firearm. They are not classified as peace officers and do not have the power to arrest.

There is a Division of Community Corrections policy that prohibits agents from carrying a firearm.

At the time of the survey, it was under consideration to allow the agents to carry a firearm.

There are no private companies providing adult probation and parole supervision services.

For updates or corrections to the information on this page, please contact: Diane Kincaid