Failing to Maintain Contact With Probation: Discovering the Reasons Why

A common requirement for individuals on probation is to remain in contact with their probation officer (PO). Failure to do these actions may result in a violation that could lead to a revocation. Further, not knowing one’s whereabouts on probation could create public safety concerns. Using qualitative interviews with individuals on probation who have received a violation for “failure to appear,” we explore why individuals stopped reporting to probation. Findings reveal problems with substance abuse, obstacles with basic needs, and miscommunication with PO as explanations for why individuals stopped reporting. In this article, we expand upon these findings and their implications by situating them in the theoretical frameworks that focus on the relationship quality between POs and clients.