Massachusetts General Laws Part IV. Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases (Ch. 263-280) Ch. 276, § 85B

Said probation officer shall have full power, by citation or other order duly issued by the probate court, to compel the attendance of witnesses to take testimony and do each and every thing necessary, including initiating contempt proceedings, to collect any and all delinquent payments due to any person entitled under order or decree of said court to receive payments, to make recommendations to the probate court, where there are dependent minor children, for the betterment of the conditions of said dependent minor children and to ascertain when requested to do so by the court the moral and general conditions surrounding said dependent minor children and shall report the result of such findings to said court.