Probation

Probation

Probation



There are many factors that need to be considered when looking for alternate solutions for dealing with first-time and non-violent offenders. Probation serves as an effective sanction when dealing with those types of offenders. When an offender is found guilty of a crime, the court can release him or her under certain conditions. This conditional release by the court is called probation. Thus, the offender has not been sentenced to prison, although they may have been incarcerated in jail following his arrest and awaiting trial.

In actuality, probation plays an important role in our society because it is a commonly used sanction for offenders and can be viewed as an alternative to the usual punishment of criminals. At the same time, probation strives not only at the punishment of the offenders, but it is essentially focused on the deterrence of crimes, deviant behavior and reduction of recidivism with the prison population (Latessa 57).   In a survey done by Glaze and Bonczar, they discovered, “Fifty-nine percent of the more than 2.2 million adults discharged from probation in 2005 had successfully met the conditions of their supervision. The percentage of probationers discharged successfully has varied between 62% (1995) and 59% (2005) (Glaze, Bonzcar 6)”

Probation also meets the present standards in regard to the prevention of crimes. This sanction can is efficient given that it does not entail the imprisonment of an offender, on the condition offender behavior. Consequently, both society and the offender can benefit. Society will save money on the costs on maintenance of prisons and incarcerated populations, meanwhile the offenders will get an opportunity to transform their lifestyle, behavior and a perhaps a new and fresh noncriminal life, while still being under supervision in terms of probation.

The idea that the judicial system and probation officers place some trust in the offender, who is being put on probation, is a part of...