Court Services
History of Probation

History of Probation

 Petersillia, J. (1998). Probation in the United States Part II. Perspectives, 22(3), 42-49. 

Significant Events in the Development of U.S. Probation

 1841 – John Augustus introduces probation in the U.S. in Boston.

 1878 – Massachusetts is first state to formally adopt probation for juveniles.

 1878-1938 – 37 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government passed juvenile and adult probation laws.

 1927 – All but Wyoming have juvenile probation laws.

 1954 – All states have juvenile probation laws.

 1956 – All states have adult probation laws (Mississippi becomes the last state to pass authorizing legislation).

 1973 – National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals endorses more extensive use of probation.

 1974 – Martinson’s widely publicized research purportedly proving that probation does not work.

 1975 – U.S. Department of Justice conducts the first census of U.S. Probationers.

 1976 – U.S. Comptroller General’s study of U.S. probation concludes it is a “system in crisis” due to inadequate funding.

 1982 – Georgia’s Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP) Programs claims to reduce recidivism and costs. 

1983 – Electronic monitoring of offenders begins in New Mexico, followed by larger experiment in Florida.

 1985 – RAND releases study of felony probationers, showing high failure rate.  Replications follow, showing probation services and effectiveness vary widely across the nation.

 1989 – Government Accounting Office survey shows all 50 states have adopted intensive probation and other intermediate sanction programs.

 1991 – U.S. Department of Justice funds nationwide intensive supervision demonstration and evaluation.

 1993 – Program evaluations show probation without adequate surveillance and treatment is ineffective, but appropriate programs reduce recidivism.
 

 History of Probation in Illinois
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

 1899 – The birth of probation in Illinois was an outgrowth of the establishment of the world’s first juvenile court in Cook County, which among other things created a juvenile probation service.

 1908 – Outside of Cook County, the first Illinois counties to establish a probation service were Kane and Peoria counties.

 1911 – “An Act providing for a system of probation…” (now the Probation and Parole Officers Act), effective July 1, 1911, extended the official use of probation to include adults convicted of certain minor crimes. 

 1915 – The Act was amended to include a much greater number of crimes.  Probation officers were to be appointed by the Courts, but there were no provisions for compensation. 

1919 – Legislation was enacted providing that the counties pay the salaries and expenses of probation officers. 

1923 – The position of State Probation Officer was created by the legislature, but the position was not filled until 1929 with the appointment of Maude Palmer as State Probation Officer.  The position was located in the Department of Public Welfare, served as a central clearinghouse for statewide probation information and promoted uniform practices and procedures.  However, the State Probation Officer had no real authority and the position was eventually eliminated.   

1946 – The Illinois Child Welfare Commission formally recommended establishment of a state-administered probation system. 

1962 – The Cook County Council of the League of Women Voters recommended creation of a state probation system, or, in the alternative, a state oversight agency for county-based probation services. 

1966 – The Illinois Commission on Children successfully promoted enactment of a $300 per month salary subsidy for juvenile probation officers, with minimum qualifications established by the Conference of Chief Circuit Judges. 

1970 – The Council on the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Criminal Defendants proposed a fully state-funded probation system under the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts as Chapter VI of the new Unified Code of Corrections (Chapter VI is currently “Reserved for Organization of Probation Services”). 

1972 – The John Howard Association published a report entitled, “Probation in Illinois:  A Politically Entrenched Overburdened ‘Non-System’”, which strongly criticized the status quo.  The report recommended a state probation system, and that no new prisons be built until probation was reformed. 

1974 – The state probation professional association, IPCSA, with assistance from a federal grant, convened a Forum on Probation to examine various reform options and organizational models.  The Forum resulted in a position paper recommending a 50/50 state/county funded system administered by a State Probation Commission. 

1978 – After several previous legislative efforts to reform probation had failed, a relatively modest probation subsidy bill was finally enacted (Public Act 80-1483, effective January 1, 1979).  The new law was a first step toward probation reform, and provided for a $400 per month salary subsidy for all qualified personnel.  The Probation Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois courts was created to administer the new law. 

1981 – Probation reform legislation was introduced (House Bill 1487) which proposed a state/county partnership model for both the funding and the administration of probation services. The bill passed the House and the Senate, but was vetoed by the Governor because of cost and accountability concerns.  An override effort failed, but the momentum for reform was established. 

1983 – Probation reform legislation proposing the partnership model was again introduced (House Bill 97), again passed both houses, and again was vetoed by the Governor.  The day before a scheduled override vote, the Governor offered a counterproposal for a phased-in, fully-funded state probation system.  Negotiations between the Governor’s office and reform proponents resulted in House Bill 2317, which was to be “Phase I” of a state probation system.  The legislation (Public Act 83-982) was signed by the Governor on December 9, 1983, and took effect on April 1, 1984.  The new law significantly expanded state funding and oversight of the county-based system. 

Note:  The phased-in state probation system never materialized, in part because of the cost, and in part because the leading reform proponents preferred the partnership model. 

1985 – House Bill 777 was introduced and proponents promoted this legislation as the final step in achieving a partnership approach to probation reform.  The bill passed, was signed by the Governor on September 22, 1985, and took effect on April 1, 1986.  The new legislation (Public Act 84-823), in addition to providing for enhanced state funding and oversight, contained provisions for the purchase of offender treatment and intervention services.

Phone: 309-937-3580

Fax 309-937-5668

Address
307 West Center Street
Cambridge IL 61238

Office Hours
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday - Friday

Email: courtservices@henrycty.com