What is probation and what happens to an individual who gets probation as part of a plea bargain?
About 4 million Americans are on probation for their crimes. What probation means in the law is that if you plead guilty, you get sentenced — typically to a prison or jail term — but instead of going to prison or jail, you’re placed on community supervision, which means you are placed on probation. You are monitored by a probation officer and typically have to see the officer monthly and abide by certain conditions. If you violate your supervision or don’t follow one of the rules imposed, you lose probation and you go to jail or prison. Probation rules and conditions might include submitting urine samples; being prohibited from leaving the state; being required to notify a probation officer before changing addresses; attending counseling, etc. If the individual fails to meet any one of these requirements, he or she could be in violation of probation and sent to jail. There are also probation’s financial costs. A person who is poor or of moderate means and is ordered to perform four,
