Many people convicted of crimes are put on probation. The probation period can replace an offender's prison sentence entirely, occur before an offender is sent to prison or take place after the offender has been released from prison.

Definition

Probation means that the offender is sent back out into the community and has to follow a strict set rules set forth by the court to avoid a prison sentence. The rules vary from case to case but can include having a curfew, keeping a job or not hanging out with other criminals.

Probation officer

A probation officer is a criminal justice personnel assigned to an offender to make sure that the offender does not break the rules set forth by the court. They also gather information about the offender to help the court determine the appropriate sentence should the offender be sent to prison, recommend the conditions in which an offender is sent back out into the community and offer correctional treatment to reduce the risk the offender may pose to the community. Probation can be either supervised or unsupervised.

Supervised

Supervised probation means that the offender is required to meet regularly with the probation officer so that the probation officer can make sure that he is following the rules of the court; these meetings can be as frequent as once a week.

Unsupervised

Some states allow for unsupervised probation. Unsupervised probation is generally given to offenders who have committed misdemeanors (crimes that warrant fines or community service). The offender may not be required to be in contact with the probation officer. If the probation is violated, the probation will be revoked. Any changes with unsupervised probation rest with the judge, not the probation officer.

Benefits

There are benefits for both supervised and unsupervised probation. Unsupervised probation allows an offender to work and support her family and pay taxes. It is also a lower cost to society than incarceration. Supervised probation, because of its strict rules, may reduce the risk that she may commit future crimes.

Source:

Probation Law & Legal Definition

American Probation and Parole Association

Resource:

U.S. Courts