Juvenile Probation and Parole

Juvenile probation and aftercare are under a county system. The Bureau of Probation Services, under the Office of Probation and Parole Services, which functions as the go between for the state and the counties, audits county probation services across the state. The structure for the county systems are as follows: President Judge, court administrator (in the larger counties), Chief Probation Officer, deputy chief, supervisors (in the larger counties), and line officers. The County Firearm Education and Training Commission, was established by Act 158, in 1994, in order to provide uniform firearms education and training programs to county probation and parole officers throughout the Commonwealth.

The President Judge in each county must give their approval before a county probation and parole department can carry firearms. The number of officers who carry firearms can also vary within an individual department. Currently 42 out of 67 counties carry firearms and out of those 42 counties, 18 county juvenile probation and parole departments are approved to carry firearms. In two counties, it is mandatory to carry a firearm and in the remaining counties, it is voluntary.

Officers who carry firearms are declared to be peace officers, and have police powers and authority throughout the Commonwealth to arrest with or without a warrant, writ, or rule of process, any person on probation or parole under the supervision of said court for failing to report as required by the terms of his/her probation or parole or for any other violation of his/her probation or parole.

The County Firearm Education and Training Commission does not have the statutory parameter to dictate psychological testing. The county decides whether or not to require psychological testing. There is no tracking system by the Commonwealth to determine what counties require psychological testing.

The County Probation and Parole Officers Firearm Education & Training Commission, under the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, provides firearm education and training. The Commission must certify county probation and parole officers that carry a firearm. All officers seeking certification to carry a firearm are required to attend the Commission’s Basic Firearms Training Academy. One examination covers legal aspects and the other covers safety and general information. They are also required to shoot and pass the Commission’s qualification course of firearms.

Officers that are certified by the Commission to carry a firearm are required to re-qualify annually. The re-qualification consists of shooting and passing the Commission’s qualification course of firearm and taking other mandated training.

The Commission sets the range of the firearms that the counties are permitted to carry (i.e. 9 mm, 10 mm, .38 caliber, .40 caliber, 45 ACP, .380 caliber). However, each county department determines the type of firearm that the officers carry.

Most of the county probation and parole departments purchase the duty firearm for the officers. In the counties where the officer must purchase their own duty firearm, they are able to purchase the firearm at a reduced cost.

The county probation and parole department determines the type of ammunition that the officers will use and provides it to the officers. The Commission does not permit the officers to use reloaded or remanufactured ammunition at the Basic Firearms Training Academy when shooting for the Commission’s annual re-qualifications.

There are no private companies providing juvenile supervision services.

Adult Probation and Parole

Pennsylvania has a dual system, which means there is a state system and a county system. Adult probation and aftercare are under the county system, which are judicial branch agencies of local government. In two counties, adult probation and parole services are managed by a state Executive branch agency, the Board of Probation and Parole. The Bureau of Probation Services, under the Office of Probation and Parole Services, functions as the liaison for the state and the counties and audits county probation services across the Commonwealth. The structure for the county systems are as follows: President Judge, court administrator (in the larger counties), Chief Probation Officer, deputy chief, supervisors (in the larger counties), and line officers.

The County Firearm Education and Training Commission, was established by Act 158, in 1994, in order to provide uniform firearms education and training programs to county probation and parole officers throughout the Commonwealth. The President Judge in each county must give their approval before a county probation and parole department can carry firearms. The numbers of officers who carry firearms can also vary within an individual department. Out of the 67 counties, 42 county probation and parole departments are approved to carry firearms. In two counties, it is mandatory to carry a firearm and in the remaining counties, it is voluntary.

Officers who carry firearms are declared to be peace officers, and have police powers and authority throughout the Commonwealth to arrest with or without a warrant, writ, or rule of process, any person on probation or parole under the supervision of said court for failing to report as required by the terms of his/her probation or parole or for any other violation of his/her probation or parole.

The County Firearm Education and Training Commission does not have the statutory parameter to dictate psychological testing. The county decides whether or not to require psychological testing. There is no tracking system by the Commonwealth to determine which counties require psychological testing.

The County Probation and Parole Officers Firearm Education & Training Commission, under the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, provides firearm education and training. The Commission must certify county probation and parole officers that want to carry a firearm.

All officers seeking certification to carry a firearm are required to attend the Commission’s Basic Firearms Training Academy. One examination covers legal aspects and the other covers safety and general information. They are also required to shoot and pass the Commission’s qualification course of fire.
Officers that are certified by the Commission to carry a firearm are required to re-qualify annually. The re-qualification consists of shooting and passing the Commission’s qualification course of fire and taking other mandated training.

The Commission sets the range of the firearms that the counties are permitted to carry which is 9 mm, 10 mm, .38 caliber, .357 caliber, .40 caliber, 45 ACP, .380 caliber. However, each county department determines the type of firearm that the officers carry.

Most of the county probation and parole departments purchase the duty firearm for the officers. In the counties where the officer must purchase their own duty firearm, they are able to purchase the firearm at a reduced cost.

The county probation and parole department determines the type of ammunition that the officers will use and provides it to the officers. The Commission does not permit the officers to use reloaded or remanufactured ammunition at the Basic Firearms Training Academy when shooting for the Commission’s annual re-qualifications.

There are no private companies providing adult supervision services.

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