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First American probation officer
- John Augustus was the first American probation officer. During his first year, he served only men, but later expanded to include women and juvenile offenders. He provided bail, counseling, and housing and employment services to probationers; at the end of the probationary period, he provided loans if necessary.
www.ojp.gov › ncjrs › virtual-libraryFROM AUGUSTUS TO THE PROGRESSIVES: A STUDY OF PROBATION'S ...
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Augustus' success started him on an 18-year run as the first probation officer. At his death, it was noted that of the 1,946 people he helped, only ten proved unworthy (for which he forfeited bail). Augustus died on June 21, 1859, in Boston, Massachusetts. See also. Matthew Davenport Hill; Alexander Maconochie (penal reformer)
John Augustus, the "Father of Probation," is recognized as the first true probation officer. Augustus was born in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1785. By 1829, he was a permanent resident of Boston and the owner of a successful boot-making business.
Augustus’ book states that officers would sometimes wait until Augustus was outside of the courtroom, before calling a case in which he was likely to bail out the defendant. Through this subterfuge a defendant would be hurried before the judge, often convicted, and thereby enabling the officers to collect small fees (Augustus, 1852:63).
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Abstract: John Augustus is generally considered the Father of Probation in the U.S. for his work with minor offenders in 19th century Massachusetts. The author provides details about Augustus' work from an unpublished letter not generally available. Download (pdf, 46.16 KB)
- Beginnings of Probation Services
- Birth of Probation
- Probation in The United States
- Launch of Pretrial Services
The origin of probation can be traced to English criminal law of the Middle Ages. Harsh punishments were imposed on adults and children alike for offenses that were not always of a serious nature. Sentences such as branding, flogging, mutilation, and execution were common. During the time of King Henry VIII, for instance, no less than 200 crimes we...
John Augustus, the "Father of Probation," is recognized as the first true probation officer. Augustus was born in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1785. By 1829, he was a permanent resident of Boston and the owner of a successful boot-making business. It was undoubtedly his membership in the Washington Total Abstinence Society that led him to the Boston co...
In the United States, particularly in Massachusetts, different practices were being developed. "Security for good behavior," also known as “good aberrance,” was much like modern bail: the accused paid a fee as collateral for good behavior. Filing was also practiced in cases that did not demand an immediate sentence. Using this procedure, indictment...
In 1974 Congress enacted the Speedy Trial Act. Title II of the Act authorized the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish "demonstration" pretrial services agencies in 10 judicial districts. The goal was to reduce crime by persons released to the community pending trial and to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention. The...
John Augustus wrote A Report of the Labors of John Augustus for the Last Ten Years, in Aid of the Unfortunate, in 1852, in which he introduced the idea of the probation system in the United States. As it is a description of what he did, this author has studied it and identified the underlying philosophy, principles of selection, and methods of ...
Bailing hundreds of offenders between the years 1841 and 1859, John Augustus is most often credited as being the founder of probation in the United States. Augustus bailed the offenders out after conviction. As a result of this favor and with further acts of friendliness such as helping the offender obtain employment and aiding the offender's ...
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