N.Y. Family Court Act § 252: Probation service

§ 252. Probation service. (a) The family court in each county shall

have a probation service. This service may include volunteer probation

officers when necessary, provided they have the qualifications required

of salaried officers, but no such volunteer probation officer shall be a

chief probation officer or receive pay from public funds for his

services.

(b) The methods, organization, and responsibilities of the probation

service shall be defined by rule of court, which shall not be

inconsistent with any provision of law.

(c) When there is a sufficient number of probation officers of the

same religious faith as that of a child to be placed on probation, the

child shall be placed on probation with a probation officer of the same

religious faith as that of the child.

(d) The probation service shall be available to assist the court and

participate in all proceedings under this act, including supervision of

the family or individual family members pending final disposition of a

child protection proceeding under article ten.