PROBATION OFFICER STANDARD EXAM SHEET 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔11. Probation revocation can be decided only by a. the probation officer.
a. the probation officer
b. the court.
c. the probation supervisor.
d. the county commission - ✔✔11. Answer B. The court is the only entity that has
jurisdic- tion over a probationer and his or her sentence. Choices a and c are incorrect,
because those people make recommendations to the court but do not decide on the
actual sentence. Choice d is incorrect because the county com- mission is not a lawful
judicial entity.
✔✔12. In the matter of a probation revocation, the
judge has the option to
a. continue probation with or without extend-
ing the probation term.
b. modify the conditions of probation.
c. revoke the sentence of probation and resen-
tence the defendant.
d. all of the above. - ✔✔12. Answer D. All of the choices are options afforded to judges
regarding the revocation of a sentence of probation.
✔✔13. You have a 17-year-old probationer who has refused to pay her mandatory court
costs (fines) and restitution. She claims she will be released from the financial obligation
when she turns 18 and is released from her probation. She will turn 18 in three months.
Which is NOT an option for your consideration?
a. to start revocation proceedings because she has the means to pay the fines and
restitu- tion but has repeatedly refused
b. to try talking to her again about the impor- tance of paying off debts, etc.
c. to avoid making this an issue because you know you can keep her on probation after
her 18th birthday
d. to let the probationer know her facts may not be accurate and that you have asked
your supervisor to sit with you while you explain again the importance of paying debts
and making amends for the crime, and then, if she continues to refuse to pay, start
revocation proceedings - ✔✔13. Answer D. Not taking action is not a possibility for a
probation officer. Ignoring a condition of probation, even with a short time frame left on
probation, is not an appropriate action to take. Although it may be a difficult decision to
,start revocation proceedings for failure to pay restitution, it is an important and stan-
dard condition of probation. It is extremely important for offenders to make amends for
their crimes and pay restitution to "make the victim whole." The action an officer should
take is choice d; however, once you have taken this step, or the step described in
choice b, then revocation proceedings, choice a, would be the necessary action.
✔✔14. -------- is defined as the release of a convicted offender under condi- tions
imposed by the court for a specific time frame during which the court maintains the
authority to modify the conditions or resen- tence the offender as needed.
a. Prerelease planning
b. Probation
c. Community corrections
d. Parole - ✔✔14. Answer B. During probation, the judge maintains control over the
offender and the offender's sentence. Only the judge has the authority to modify the
conditions or revoke the sentence. Prerelease planning, choice a, in which the officer
and offender determine where the offender will live and work and in which programs he
or she will participate, is completed when offenders are working toward their release
from detention or prison. Choice c is a non-incarcerative option in which offenders serve
all or a portion of their sentences in the community-based pro- grams. These programs
usually occur at the beginning of the sentence or as a back-end pro- gram that assists
prisoners in community reen- try. Choice d is the conditional release of an offender from
a correctional institution under the continued custody of the state, to serve the
remainder of his or her sentence in the com- munity under supervision.
✔✔15. The man who has been recognized as "the Father of Probation" is
a. John Augustus.
b. Alexander Machonochie.
c. Peter Oxenbridge Thacher.
d. King Henry VII. - ✔✔15. Answer A. In 1841, Boston citizen John Augustus bailed out
a "common drunk," took him to his home, helped him with his drinking problem, and
taught him a trade (boot making). John then took the rehabilitated man back to the
Boston court three weeks later where the reformed man was released after paying a
small fine. Choice b is incorrect; Alexander Machonochie established an earlier system
of parole. Choice c is incorrect; Peter Oxen- bridge Thacher was a judge who
introduced a system of release on recognizance. King Henry VII, choice d, provided
early sentences to wrongdoers.
, ✔✔16. You have to go to the facility where your proba- tioner being held while awaiting
sentencing. You go to the nearest
a. prison.
b. halfway house.
c. jail.
d. reentry program. - ✔✔16. Answer C. confines people who are detained (for arrests or
transports), awaiting sentencing, or serv- ing a sentence for up to one year. A prison
(choice a) is a state-run, long-term facility that confines offenders who have been con-
victed of a felony for a period of one year or more. Choices b and d are programs into
which offenders may be released when they are under community supervision. These
programs allow offenders to reenter the com- munity with available resources and
support.
✔✔17. The presentence investigation report is used
a. by the courts to determine an appropriate
sentence for the offender.
b. by the victim to determine how much resti-
tution is owed to him or her.
c. by the correctional institutions for purposes
of classification and treatment.
d. choices a and c - ✔✔17. Answer d. Presentence investigation reports are a major
source of information used by the courts to determine what type of sentence is appropri-
ate for the offender. If the sentence includes prison time, then the presentence
investiga- tion report is used by the correctional staff to help determine what type of
treatment and classification is needed for the offender. Choice b is incorrect because,
although the victim is able to provide information that may be included in the report, the
victim is not provided a copy of the report, which includes the offender's historical
information.
✔✔.
18. You have been asked to complete a presentence investigation report on an
offender. When you go to the jail to start this process, the offender tells you that on the
advice of his attorney, he is not going to participate actively in this process and you are
going to have to find out informa- tion on your own. Your next step is to
a. tell the offender that you will see him sit in jail for taking that approach with you.
b. try to convince the offender that it is in his best interest to talk with you, even asking if
the offender would like to call his attorney again.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔11. Probation revocation can be decided only by a. the probation officer.
a. the probation officer
b. the court.
c. the probation supervisor.
d. the county commission - ✔✔11. Answer B. The court is the only entity that has
jurisdic- tion over a probationer and his or her sentence. Choices a and c are incorrect,
because those people make recommendations to the court but do not decide on the
actual sentence. Choice d is incorrect because the county com- mission is not a lawful
judicial entity.
✔✔12. In the matter of a probation revocation, the
judge has the option to
a. continue probation with or without extend-
ing the probation term.
b. modify the conditions of probation.
c. revoke the sentence of probation and resen-
tence the defendant.
d. all of the above. - ✔✔12. Answer D. All of the choices are options afforded to judges
regarding the revocation of a sentence of probation.
✔✔13. You have a 17-year-old probationer who has refused to pay her mandatory court
costs (fines) and restitution. She claims she will be released from the financial obligation
when she turns 18 and is released from her probation. She will turn 18 in three months.
Which is NOT an option for your consideration?
a. to start revocation proceedings because she has the means to pay the fines and
restitu- tion but has repeatedly refused
b. to try talking to her again about the impor- tance of paying off debts, etc.
c. to avoid making this an issue because you know you can keep her on probation after
her 18th birthday
d. to let the probationer know her facts may not be accurate and that you have asked
your supervisor to sit with you while you explain again the importance of paying debts
and making amends for the crime, and then, if she continues to refuse to pay, start
revocation proceedings - ✔✔13. Answer D. Not taking action is not a possibility for a
probation officer. Ignoring a condition of probation, even with a short time frame left on
probation, is not an appropriate action to take. Although it may be a difficult decision to
,start revocation proceedings for failure to pay restitution, it is an important and stan-
dard condition of probation. It is extremely important for offenders to make amends for
their crimes and pay restitution to "make the victim whole." The action an officer should
take is choice d; however, once you have taken this step, or the step described in
choice b, then revocation proceedings, choice a, would be the necessary action.
✔✔14. -------- is defined as the release of a convicted offender under condi- tions
imposed by the court for a specific time frame during which the court maintains the
authority to modify the conditions or resen- tence the offender as needed.
a. Prerelease planning
b. Probation
c. Community corrections
d. Parole - ✔✔14. Answer B. During probation, the judge maintains control over the
offender and the offender's sentence. Only the judge has the authority to modify the
conditions or revoke the sentence. Prerelease planning, choice a, in which the officer
and offender determine where the offender will live and work and in which programs he
or she will participate, is completed when offenders are working toward their release
from detention or prison. Choice c is a non-incarcerative option in which offenders serve
all or a portion of their sentences in the community-based pro- grams. These programs
usually occur at the beginning of the sentence or as a back-end pro- gram that assists
prisoners in community reen- try. Choice d is the conditional release of an offender from
a correctional institution under the continued custody of the state, to serve the
remainder of his or her sentence in the com- munity under supervision.
✔✔15. The man who has been recognized as "the Father of Probation" is
a. John Augustus.
b. Alexander Machonochie.
c. Peter Oxenbridge Thacher.
d. King Henry VII. - ✔✔15. Answer A. In 1841, Boston citizen John Augustus bailed out
a "common drunk," took him to his home, helped him with his drinking problem, and
taught him a trade (boot making). John then took the rehabilitated man back to the
Boston court three weeks later where the reformed man was released after paying a
small fine. Choice b is incorrect; Alexander Machonochie established an earlier system
of parole. Choice c is incorrect; Peter Oxen- bridge Thacher was a judge who
introduced a system of release on recognizance. King Henry VII, choice d, provided
early sentences to wrongdoers.
, ✔✔16. You have to go to the facility where your proba- tioner being held while awaiting
sentencing. You go to the nearest
a. prison.
b. halfway house.
c. jail.
d. reentry program. - ✔✔16. Answer C. confines people who are detained (for arrests or
transports), awaiting sentencing, or serv- ing a sentence for up to one year. A prison
(choice a) is a state-run, long-term facility that confines offenders who have been con-
victed of a felony for a period of one year or more. Choices b and d are programs into
which offenders may be released when they are under community supervision. These
programs allow offenders to reenter the com- munity with available resources and
support.
✔✔17. The presentence investigation report is used
a. by the courts to determine an appropriate
sentence for the offender.
b. by the victim to determine how much resti-
tution is owed to him or her.
c. by the correctional institutions for purposes
of classification and treatment.
d. choices a and c - ✔✔17. Answer d. Presentence investigation reports are a major
source of information used by the courts to determine what type of sentence is appropri-
ate for the offender. If the sentence includes prison time, then the presentence
investiga- tion report is used by the correctional staff to help determine what type of
treatment and classification is needed for the offender. Choice b is incorrect because,
although the victim is able to provide information that may be included in the report, the
victim is not provided a copy of the report, which includes the offender's historical
information.
✔✔.
18. You have been asked to complete a presentence investigation report on an
offender. When you go to the jail to start this process, the offender tells you that on the
advice of his attorney, he is not going to participate actively in this process and you are
going to have to find out informa- tion on your own. Your next step is to
a. tell the offender that you will see him sit in jail for taking that approach with you.
b. try to convince the offender that it is in his best interest to talk with you, even asking if
the offender would like to call his attorney again.
