Probation clients’ satisfaction with their probation officer: Do perceptions of fairness and felt support matter?

Probation officers serve as a bridge between incarceration and reintegration into society for individuals who have been incarcerated. The aim of this study is to contribute to existing literature on community supervision by examining (a) the extent to which probation clients are satisfied with their probation officer and (b) the extent to which perceived procedural justice and felt support of their probation officer are related to levels of satisfaction. The current study used cross-sectional data from 597 formerly incarcerated adults who had contact with the Dutch Probation Services. The findings showed that probation clients were generally satisfied with their probation officer. A significant portion of the variability in probation clients’ satisfaction with their probation officer can primarily be attributed to perceived procedural justice.