Probation and Parole

Millions of Americans are supervised in their communities rather than behind bars, either as a substitute for incarceration or after leaving prison. This section covers the rules, expectations, and consequences that come with living under court or agency oversight instead of, or in addition to, time served.

Supervision arrangements differ depending on how and why someone ends up under them. Some people are placed on supervision instead of going to prison at all, while others are released from prison early on the condition that they follow a set of rules. Understanding the distinctions between these arrangements, and what obligations they carry, is covered in Community Supervision.

Compliance and consequences shape daily life for people on supervision, since check-ins, fees, travel limits, and behavior restrictions all come with the risk that violating a condition can lead to additional penalties or a return to custody. The practical realities of meeting these requirements, and what happens when they are not met, are part of the same body of material.