County Leg asks state to allow 25-year retirement plan for probation officers

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 November 2026 at 9:56 am

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is asking the governor and State Legislature to enact legislation, allowing county probation officers across the state to be able to retire after 25 years like most other law enforcement officers and first responders in the state.

County probation officers are currently in the standard tier plans through the New York State Retirement and Social Security Law, requiring them to work until age 62 or 63 to retire with full benefits, creating an inequity between probation officers and other law enforcement personnel, Orleans County legislators stated in a resolution last week.

“State support of the existing 25-year retirement plans for County Probation Officers would significantly enhance recruitment, improve retention of experienced personnel, support officer wellness, and ensure the long-term stability of County Probation Departments,” county legislators stated in their resolution approved last Tuesday.

Legislators said the probation officers are an integral part of the criminal justice system.

“The physically demanding and emotionally taxing nature of probation work exposes these officers to heightened safety risks and chronic occupational stress over the course of a long career,” the resolution states.

Probation officers are required to complete rigorous peace officer training, conduct field investigations, execute warrants, conduct home searches, monitor high-risk offenders, partner with police agencies in various state supported violence reduction measures, and respond to unpredictable, violent situations on a daily basis, legislators said.

“County probation officers perform critical, high-stress law enforcement duties that directly ensure public safety, rehabilitate justice-involved individuals, and support crime victims across New York State’s 62 counties,” legislators stated.

The County Legislature also said the state, if it includes probation officers in the 25-year retirement plan, should provide additional funding to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to alleviate financial pressure on counties.