Sec. 1. (a) A court or division of a court authorized to impose probation shall appoint one (1) or more probation officers, depending on the needs of the court, except that two (2) or more divisions within a court, two (2) or more courts within a county, or two (2) or more courts not in the same county may jointly appoint and employ one (1) or more probation officers for the purpose of meeting the requirements of this section.

(b) A person may be appointed as a probation officer after the effective date established by the judicial conference of Indiana only if that person meets the minimum employment qualifications adopted by the conference, except that this requirement does not apply to any person certified as a qualified probation officer before that effective date. Any uncertified person appointed as a probation officer after the effective date who fails to successfully complete the written examination established under section 8 of this chapter within six (6) months after the date of the person's appointment is prohibited from exercising the powers of a probation officer as granted by law.

(c) Probation officers shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing court and are directly responsible to and subject to the orders of the court. The amount and time of payment of salaries of probation officers shall be fixed by the county, city, or town fiscal body in accordance with the salary schedule adopted by the county, city, or town fiscal body under IC 36-2-16.5. The salary of a probation officer shall be paid out of the county, city, or town treasury by the county auditor or city controller. Probation officers are entitled to their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. Probation officers shall give a bond if the court so directs in a sum to be fixed by the court.

(d) A court, or two (2) or more courts acting jointly, may designate a probation officer to direct and supervise the work of the probation department.

As added by Acts 1979, P.L.120, SEC.6. Amended by Acts 1980, P.L.89, SEC.1; P.L.277-2003, SEC.2.