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Rule 5 Chief probation officer.

← Previous Rule 4: Probation officers. [Rescinded.] Next → Rule 5.1: Salary subsidies for juvenile probation officers.

Rule Text

The presiding juvenile court judge of each county shall appoint a chief probation officer who meets the minimum qualifications of a juvenile probation officer in the Standards for Certification of Juvenile Probation Officers and who shall serve at the pleasure of the judge. The chief probation officer shall be responsible directly to the presiding juvenile court judge for coordinating the probation services of the court, their internal procedures, budgeting, office management, allocation of space, and personnel transactions.

[Amended 7-14-2011, eff. 10-1-2011; Amended 5-1-2014, eff. 7-1-2014.]

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Each county's top juvenile court judge picks a chief probation officer to run the probation department. This person must meet the state's basic qualifications for juvenile probation officers, and they keep the job as long as the judge wants them there.

The chief probation officer answers directly to the judge and handles the day-to-day running of probation services. This includes managing staff, setting up office procedures, handling the budget, deciding how office space is used, and dealing with personnel matters like hiring and other staffing decisions.

For someone involved in a juvenile case, this rule mainly explains how the probation department is organized behind the scenes. It shows that one person is in charge of keeping probation services running smoothly and that this person reports straight to the judge overseeing juvenile cases in that county.

Committee Notes

Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective October 1, 2011

This rule was amended to ensure that chief probation officers who are appointed pursuant to this rule meet the minimum qualifications of a juvenile probation officer in the Standards for Certification for Juvenile Probation Officers.

Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective July 1, 2014

The amendment to Rule 5 is technical. No substantive change is intended.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending effective October 1, 2011, Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 9, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 15.1, Rule 17, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 23, Rule 24, Rule 25, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 and adopting effective October 1, 2011, Rule 8.1 and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 2 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 3 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 5 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 6 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 8 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Adoption of Rule 8.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 9 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 12 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 13 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 14 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 15.1 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 17 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 18 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 20 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 23 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 24 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 25 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 26 Effective October 1, 2011; the Comment to Amendment to Rule 28 Effective October 1, 2011; and the Comment to Amendment to Rule 31 Effective October 1, 2011, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, Rule 5, Rule 5.1, Rule 6, Rule 8, Rule 8.1, Rule 12, Rule 13, Rule 14, Rule 15, Rule 18, Rule 20, Rule 24, Rule 26, Rule 28, and Rule 31 effective July 1, 2014, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ___ So. 3d.

← Previous Rule 4: Probation officers. [Rescinded.] Next → Rule 5.1: Salary subsidies for juvenile probation officers.

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Last updated: September 2026

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