Probation offices

Last updated on June 10, 2021

Approximately 17,000 individuals are under court-ordered supervision in communities across the province. Community Corrections staff are motivated and committed in their efforts to lead change every day.

Probation officers at 56 Community Corrections offices across B.C. seek better outcomes for everyone, by ensuring individuals are following their court orders and working closely with them to connect them with supports in the community, change their behaviour, and reduce reoffending.

The courts determine if an individual is placed under community supervision and the conditions they must follow. This can occur through different types of court orders:

  • Probation orders – Individual is serving a sentence in the community with conditions that they must follow
  • Bail orders – Individual is waiting for trial in the community (rather than in custody)
  • Conditional sentence orders – Individual is permitted to serve a sentence of incarceration in the community under stricter conditions than a probation order
  • Recognizance/Peace bonds – Individual has not been convicted of an offence, but the court has reasonable grounds to fear that the individual will cause personal injury or property damage
  • Probation officers also supervise alternative measures, which are an option for the prosecutor to provide an individual with the opportunity to accept responsibility for a crime and make amends to the community without going to court

To learn more about our Community Corrections Division and how individuals are supervised in the community, please visit our  Community Corrections page.

Investigation and Standards Office

The Investigations and Standards Office is an independent body of the Ministry of Attorney General. Its responsibilities include investigating complaints made by inmates at provincial correctional centres and probationers supervised in the community.