Probation officer reports for court: bail information, pre-sentence and victim reports
Probation and Aftercare Service · sources read 3 Oct 2026
You don't apply for these reports: a court orders them. A probation officer then interviews the accused and often the family, victim and community, and sends the report to court, free and usually within 14 days. The court still makes the final decision.
- Fee
- FreeBail Information Report and other court reports
- How long
- About 14 days (you should be told why if it takes longer)
- Where
- Nothing to apply for: the court sends the order to the probation office. Probation offices are in every county and sub-county.
What you need
- A court order asking for the report (the court sends it; you don't bring an application)
Steps
- The court orders the report. A Bail Information Report, for example, can only be done after a court order.
- For bail, the probation officer gives the court a short background on the accused and assesses whether they are suitable for bail or bond.
- For sentencing, the officer also records how the family, the victim and the community feel about the offender and the offence. Expect them to talk to you.
- The probation officer hands the report to the court, and the court decides using its own discretion.
Watch out
- You can ask any probation officer who visits you to show ID and say why they have come.
- Give the officer accurate information. The report goes straight to the court.
- PACS cannot change a court's decision. To challenge bail or a sentence, you go back through the court.
Who can apply
- Accused persons, offenders and ex-offenders can be assessed by a probation officer.
Official sources (3)
- Report Provision probation.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Offender Management probation.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Citizens Service Delivery Charter (2024) probation.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026