FAQ

Call the Dauphin County Adult Probation Office at (717) 780-6900 and ask to speak to the supervising probation officer. The receptionist will be able to tell you who the supervising probation officer is.

This depends upon several factors. Our department utilizes an evidence based risk/needs assessment to enable officers to focus on the areas of the offenders lives that are likely contributing to the criminal behavior, and can be changed. The assigned probation/parole officer will discuss the results of the assessment with the offender and meet with them accordingly to ensure compliance with the orders of the court. 

Probation officers are always willing to speak to the public or to family members of an offender. It should be noted, however, that confidentiality laws prevent the sharing of personal information of a client. 

If your driver's license was suspended by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), you'll need to satisfy your suspension requirements before you can have it reinstated. 

•Contact PennDOT by phone: 

   Within Pennsylvania: (800) 932-4600. 

   Out of state: (800) 932-4600. 

•Use the Online Driver Services system. 

Some conditions that probationer(s) or parolees must abide by are maintaining a valid address, paying on costs and fines and remaining arrest free. Other special conditions are set based on the nature of the offense of that an individual. Conditions may include undergoing appropriate evaluations, participating in treatment programs, submitting to drug testing, attending educational programs or being under electronic monitoring.

Several documents must be presented to the court. The assigned probation officer will discuss the paperwork and provide specific instructions to the offender at the time of ARD discharge.

Act 1991-35 indicates that a supervision fee be imposed in ARD/probation and/or parole sentences when an offender is under supervision of the county probation department. 

During supervision, an offender may be asked to submit urine samples to verify compliance with the conditions of supervision. 

Each officer has a list of community agencies that are certified in these various areas.  Contact the supervising officer for further information. 

Generally a sentence of confinement requires a minimum and a maximum time.  In Pennsylvania, a state sentence is one with a minimum of two (2) years or more.  The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is the paroling and supervising authority in state sentences.   

A county sentence is one in which the maximum sentence is two (2) years minus one (1) day or less.  The sentencing judge grants parole in a county sentence and the county probation office supervises these offenders. 

In cases of probation, someone is sentenced directly under the supervision of a probation officer, for a specific period of time. In cases of parole, someone is placed under the supervision of a parole officer for a specific period of time following a set period of incarceration.