New York Consolidated Laws, Family Court Act - FCT § 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.