Ontario. Probation Services Branch

• Probation Services Branch

• Ontario. Probation Service Branch

The Probation Services Branch was created within the Ontario Department of the Attorney General in January 1952, when the first Director of Probation Services, D.W.F. Coughlan, was appointed. Prior to 1952, Probation Officers could be appointed and reported through the Department of the Attorney General, but only 14 officers were so appointed between 1922 and 1951 and no formal structure had been created to administer their activities. Following the creation of the Probation Services Branch, probation services were greatly expanded.

In 1969, the Probation Services Branch moved from the jurisdiction of the Department of the Attorney General to the Department of Justice.

In 1972, responsibility for probation services was moved from the Department of Justice to the Ministry of Correctional Services. Within the new ministry, probation services were undertaken by the Adult Division and the Juvenile Division.

The Probation Services Branch administered the activities of Probation Officers attached to the various courts of criminal jurisdiction in Ontario to provide such courts with pre-sentence reports on the accused, supervise the behaviour of persons put on probation by the courts, and assist them to settle down within their communities as useful and law abiding citizens.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Directory and Guide to the Services of the Ontario Government, 1967 and earlier.

Department of the Attorney General. The Development of Probation Services in Ontario by George G. McFarlane, June 1966.

Not found in Canadiana authorities.

Archivist(s):
Bob Krawczyk