The Probation Service


The Probation Service is the lead agency responsible for the assessment, supervision and management of offenders in the community. It is comprised of more than 500 staff, based in 35 community-based offices with a presence in every county nationwide, and with staff working in all 13 prisons. It provides services to both adult and young offenders, in the community, in detention and in custody to reduce offending and create safer communities.

Services are organised nationally and delivered locally with the provision of probation supervision, community service, community return, restorative justice and offence-focused behaviour programmes. The Service works in partnership with relevant stakeholders including the Department, the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, TUSLA and health services in addition to community-based organisations and voluntary services.

In 2024 the Probation Service worked with 3,521 people in prison settings.

Services provided in prisons include, 1:1 offender engagement to identify and address factors underpinning offending behaviour; multi-agency work to manage sentences and plan for the release of individuals who are subject to court ordered Probation supervision and/or subject to Community Return Scheme; Life Sentenced Prisoners and Parolees and the Supervised Temporary Release scheme at Limerick Women’s Prison.

The Probation Service, Prisons and Reintegration Directorate, established in 2022, supports and drives efficient and effective working relationships between the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service as well as driving the delivery of Probation Service work within prisons.

The Probation Service has staff assigned staff to all 13 prisons in the country. The Probation Service and Irish Prison Service, work collaboratively to support the management and rehabilitation of people who offend before, during and after imprisonment. Currently both are working together in the implementation of the fourth joint strategic statement, which, reaffirms the shared commitment of both organizations to delivering a multi-agency approach to the management and rehabilitation of people who offend.

Further information is available on the Probation Service website.