The city probation department is a large, complex bureaucracy that
employs 1,600 people who work in various units throughout the city.
Probation officers, who make up the vast majority of department employees,
are responsible for investigation before court appearances and
supervision of offenders sentenced to probation. The primary goal of
probation supervision is to insure public safety and to monitor the conditions
of probation, whether generic or special conditions imposed by a
judge at sentencing.