You are here


The court may sentence a convicted individual to probation or to a term of incarceration followed by a term of supervised release. Probation is a court ordered sentence issued as an alternative to jail or prison. Individuals under supervision (probation or supervised release) are assigned to a probation officer who is responsible for monitoring offenders and ensuring they comply with the conditions ordered by the court as well as provide an opportunity for change.

Conditions of Supervised Release

At the start of supervision, a probation officer will fully explain conditions of supervision. These conditions include the mandatory and standard conditions which the court imposes on all convicted individuals, and may include discretionary conditions which the court imposes to address personal needs of the individual. Discretionary conditions may include such things as substance abuse testing or treatment, mental health treatment, and the disclosure of financial information.

Process of Post Conviction

Supervision begins with a probation officer evaluating the probationer or supervised releasee's needs through an interview and completion of a risk assessment tool. This allows the officer to identify the needs of the individual to decrease the risk of rearrest or other violations of supervision. Throughout the term of supervised release or probation, the officer reassess the potential risk and changing needs of an individual on supervision. The officer may assist the individual in setting goals to remove obstacles to success and assist them in accessing resources to accomplish those goals.