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Department of Probation
New York City probation traces to the New York State Probation Commission, created in 1907, and a State Division of Probation established within the Department of Correction in 1917; a 1974 statutory change made local probation directors accountable to their chief local officials rather than the judiciary, placing the New York City Department of Probation under the Mayor. DOP is today the second-largest probation department in the country after Los Angeles County, providing court-ordered supervision aimed at enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism.
What's working
- What percent of juvenile probationers arrested citywide as a percentage of the NYPD arrest report (monthly average)?: 0.3% — increasing, tied to rising youth arrests and more felony-level probation cases
- What is the average monthly violation rate for adult probationers?: 1.5% — increasing overall, though easing recently with enhanced supervision efforts
- What is the average monthly violation rate for juvenile probationers?: 1.4% — decreasing, which DOP credits to enhanced supervision efforts
- and 2 more below
What's getting worse
- What percent of juvenile delinquency cases eligible for adjustment?: 16% — decreasing, though DOP hasn't identified a single cause for the multi-year decline
- What is the completion rate for adult probationers?: 76%
- What is the completion rate for juvenile probationers?: 92%
- and 2 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
What percent of adult probationers arrested citywide as a percentage of the NYPD arrest report (monthly average)?
2.4%Beats target by 0.2%
What percent of adult probationers arrested citywide as a percentage of the NYPD arrest report (monthly average)?
2.4%Beats target by 0.2%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 2.4% | 2.6% |
| FY23 | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| FY24 | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| FY25 | 2.5% | 2.6% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2.4% | 2.6% |
2.4% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (0.2% below the 2.6% target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
What is the average monthly violation rate for juvenile probationers?
1.4% — decreasing, which DOP credits to enhanced supervision effortsBeats target by 1.6%
What is the average monthly violation rate for juvenile probationers?
1.4% — decreasing, which DOP credits to enhanced supervision effortsBeats target by 1.6%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1.7% | 3% |
| FY23 | 2.1% | 3% |
| FY24 | 1.7% | 3% |
| FY25 | 1.4% | 3% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 3% |
The juvenile probation-violation rate's decline to 1.4% in Fiscal 2025, following a peak of 2.1% in Fiscal 2023, is credited by DOP to enhanced supervision efforts aimed at promoting compliance with probation terms. DOP has not published a detailed explanation for the earlier rise between Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2023.
Researched July 16, 2026 — Department of Probation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
Without a numeric target
What percent of juvenile probationers arrested citywide as a percentage of the NYPD arrest report (monthly average)?
0.3% — increasing, tied to rising youth arrests and more felony-level probation cases
What percent of juvenile probationers arrested citywide as a percentage of the NYPD arrest report (monthly average)?
0.3% — increasing, tied to rising youth arrests and more felony-level probation cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 0.1% |
| FY23 | 0.2% |
| FY24 | 0.2% |
| FY25 | 0.3% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0.3% |
DOP's own reporting attributes the rise in juveniles arrested while on probation, as a share of all NYPD arrests, to a broader increase in youth arrests citywide and to a growing proportion of youth placed on probation for felony-level charges — a group statistically more likely to be rearrested. DOP says it has responded by refining supervision strategies to focus resources on youth assessed as being at higher risk of reoffending.
Researched July 16, 2026 — Department of Probation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
What is the average monthly violation rate for adult probationers?
1.5% — increasing overall, though easing recently with enhanced supervision efforts
What is the average monthly violation rate for adult probationers?
1.5% — increasing overall, though easing recently with enhanced supervision efforts
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 0.7% |
| FY23 | 1% |
| FY24 | 2% |
| FY25 | 1.5% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
DOP attributes the rise in the adult probation-violation rate through Fiscal 2024 largely to an increase in rearrests among people on probation, which drives up the overall count of violations. The subsequent decline to 1.5% in Fiscal 2025 is credited by the agency to enhanced supervision efforts aimed at helping clients stay in compliance with the terms of probation.
Researched July 16, 2026 — Department of Probation, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, Department of Probation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
What percent of juvenile delinquency cases eligible for adjustment?
16% — decreasing, though DOP hasn't identified a single cause for the multi-year decline
What percent of juvenile delinquency cases eligible for adjustment?
16% — decreasing, though DOP hasn't identified a single cause for the multi-year decline
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 41% | 30% |
| FY23 | 32% | 30% |
| FY24 | 24% | Not available |
| FY25 | 16% | Not available |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | Not available |
DOP itself cautions that this metric is difficult to compare year to year because the mix of juvenile cases referred to the department changes, and each case is evaluated individually for statutory eligibility and suitability for diversion from formal court proceedings. The agency says it continues to apply a standardized assessment tool to keep screening consistent but has not identified a single cause for the multi-year decline in the adjustment-eligible share.
Researched July 16, 2026 — Department of Probation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
When a judge in criminal court needs to decide a sentence, or a family court needs to decide whether a young person's case should be diverted or move forward, the Department of Probation is often required to investigate first. Probation officers interview the defendant or juvenile, along with family, victims, and other relevant parties, examining criminal, social, health, and employment history to produce reports and recommendations the court relies on. This function is meant to make court outcomes more informed and individualized than a purely charge-based process would allow.
NYC Probation - Adult Court, NYC Probation - Family Court, New York City Department of Probation - Wikipedia
What is the completion rate for adult probationers?
76%
What is the completion rate for adult probationers?
76%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 85% |
| FY23 | 81% |
| FY24 | 77% |
| FY25 | 76% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
76% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Starting in 2011, the Department of Probation created the Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), which relocated probation officers into seven high-need neighborhoods, including Brownsville, East New York, Harlem, and the South Bronx, to work alongside community organizations and residents. The model is built on "community justice" and "justice reinvestment" principles: rather than treating probation solely as surveillance, it connects medium- and high-risk clients to services and opportunities meant to reduce the conditions that drive reoffending. It is part of a broader set of DOP reforms since 2010 organized around the goals of doing no harm, doing more good, and doing it in the community.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON, NYC NeON Overview 2022
What is the completion rate for juvenile probationers?
92%
What is the completion rate for juvenile probationers?
92%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 92% |
| FY23 | 88% |
| FY24 | 87% |
| FY25 | 92% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
92% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Starting in 2011, the Department of Probation created the Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), which relocated probation officers into seven high-need neighborhoods, including Brownsville, East New York, Harlem, and the South Bronx, to work alongside community organizations and residents. The model is built on "community justice" and "justice reinvestment" principles: rather than treating probation solely as surveillance, it connects medium- and high-risk clients to services and opportunities meant to reduce the conditions that drive reoffending. It is part of a broader set of DOP reforms since 2010 organized around the goals of doing no harm, doing more good, and doing it in the community.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON, NYC NeON Overview 2022
What percent of juvenile investigation reports — On time completion?
94%
What percent of juvenile investigation reports — On time completion?
94%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 95% |
| FY23 | 91% |
| FY24 | 80% |
| FY25 | 94% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
94% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
When a judge in criminal court needs to decide a sentence, or a family court needs to decide whether a young person's case should be diverted or move forward, the Department of Probation is often required to investigate first. Probation officers interview the defendant or juvenile, along with family, victims, and other relevant parties, examining criminal, social, health, and employment history to produce reports and recommendations the court relies on. This function is meant to make court outcomes more informed and individualized than a purely charge-based process would allow.
NYC Probation - Adult Court, NYC Probation - Family Court, New York City Department of Probation - Wikipedia
How many intel enforcement events are there?
5,085 events — increasing overall, though a FY25 dip reflects fewer interlock-device checks
How many intel enforcement events are there?
5,085 events — increasing overall, though a FY25 dip reflects fewer interlock-device checks
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,807 events |
| FY23 | 3,678 events |
| FY24 | 7,407 events |
| FY25 | 5,085 events |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Intel enforcement events roughly quadrupled between Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2024 as DOP's Intelligence Unit expanded collaboration with case-carrying probation officers, then fell 31% in Fiscal 2025 — a decline DOP attributes largely to an 87% drop in ignition-interlock-device compliance checks (tied to fewer court referrals for those devices), even as weapon-possession and domestic-incident enforcement visits both rose that year.
Researched July 16, 2026 — Department of Probation, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, Department of Probation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
What percent of adult investigation reports — On time completion?
97%
What percent of adult investigation reports — On time completion?
97%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 98% |
| FY23 | 99% |
| FY24 | 99.2% |
| FY25 | 97% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
97% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
When a judge in criminal court needs to decide a sentence, or a family court needs to decide whether a young person's case should be diverted or move forward, the Department of Probation is often required to investigate first. Probation officers interview the defendant or juvenile, along with family, victims, and other relevant parties, examining criminal, social, health, and employment history to produce reports and recommendations the court relies on. This function is meant to make court outcomes more informed and individualized than a purely charge-based process would allow.
NYC Probation - Adult Court, NYC Probation - Family Court, New York City Department of Probation - Wikipedia
What percent of rearrests per adult who passes through supervision?
31.6%
What percent of rearrests per adult who passes through supervision?
31.6%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | Not available |
| FY25 | 42.3% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 31.6% |
31.6% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City.
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON
What percent of rearrests per juvenile who passes through supervision?
36%
What percent of rearrests per juvenile who passes through supervision?
36%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | Not available |
| FY25 | 35.6% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 36% |
36% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City.
Why this is tracked
Probation supervision is the mechanism that turns a judge's sentencing decision into an ongoing, monitored arrangement rather than incarceration. Probation officers track compliance with court-ordered conditions and respond when those conditions are violated, functioning as the enforcement layer that makes community-based sentencing possible instead of relying on jail or prison. Since the 2010s, NYC Probation has shifted this supervision toward a community justice model, moving officers into the neighborhoods where clients live in an effort to make compliance monitoring more effective and less purely punitive.
NYC Probation - Neighborhood Opportunity Network (NeON), Vera Institute - Adult Probation and NeON