Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: More Efficient Use of Probation Officers and Prioritization of Victim Restitution Needed

Report 04-58, August 2004




Report Summary

  • When distributing restitution funds, the department does not make payments to victims a priority, as required by law.
  • Collection and disbursement of offender funds is incompatible with the agency's mission and detracts from probation officers' ability to meet their primary mission of supervising offenders. These responsibilities should be either transferred to the Department of Revenue or privatized.
  • Increased departmental efforts to identify and apprehend persons who abscond from probation supervision have slightly reduced the number of absconders; however, over 43,000 offenders remain at large.
  • All probation officers who serve in courts now also maintain active caseloads. While vehicles have not been provided to probation officers, the Legislature has awarded funds to defray personal vehicle costs.


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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
criminal justice, probation, victims, restitution, community corrections, absconders, juvenile justice, crime, corrections, diversion, high risk youth, The Florida Network, Outward Bound, PACE, Prevention, sexually violent predators, sex offenders, treatment, ryce act, martin, liberty, mentally ill, desoto, monitoring, evaluation, high risk youth, recidivism, grant monitoring, contract monitoring