S. 367Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:38 PM UTC

The Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017 amends federal law to give probation officers the power to arrest hostile third parties who interfere with their duties. It allows officers to make warrant‑less arrests when they have probable cause that someone has assaulted, resisted, or otherwise impeded them or another probation officer. The change applies to all federal probation officers and the people they encounter while performing official duties.

Key Provisions

Amends the heading of 18 U.S.C. § 3606 to reflect the new authority of probation officers.
Adds a new subsection granting probation officers the ability to arrest without a warrant if there is probable cause that a person has forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, or interfered with a probation officer or a fellow probation officer.
Specifies that this arrest authority must be exercised under rules and regulations set by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Updates the table of sections to rename § 3606 as “Arrest authority of probation officers.”

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 14, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 14, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

February 14, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 14, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 367

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 14, 2017

Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Manchin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend section 3606 of title 18, United States Code, to grant probation officers authority to arrest hostile third parties who obstruct or impede a probation officer in the performance of official duties.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017.

Authority of probation officers

(a)

In general

Section 3606 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the heading, by striking and return of a probationer and by inserting authority of probation officers;

(2)

by striking If there and inserting (a) If there; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(b)

A probation officer, while in the performance of his or her official duties, may arrest a person without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe that the person has forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, or interfered with the probation officer, or a fellow probation officer, in violation of section 111. The arrest authority described in this subsection shall be exercised under such rules and regulations as the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe.

(b)

Table of sections

The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 229 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 3606 and inserting the following:

3606. Arrest authority of probation officers.