Probation and parole are very important aspects of the criminal justice system. These programs help to hold people who have been convicted of crimes accountable for their actions. While these programs serve the same purpose, they are actually two different programs.
We understand that you might have some questions about probation and parole, especially if this is your first time in the criminal justice system. No matter where you are in the criminal justice process, you should understand some basic points.
Probation is a program that a judge can sentence a person to instead of sending that person to jail. When a person is sentenced to probation, he or she will have to meet with a probation officer. Additionally, they will have to follow certain rules. Failing to follow those rules, which usually include avoiding alcohol and drugs and not getting into any more legal trouble, can lead to new criminal charges being filed. In many cases, a person who doesn’t follow probation rules will be charged with a probation violation.
Parole is a program that a person might enter when he or she gets out of prison. The person would have to report to a parole officer and follow a parole plan. The rules for parole are often stricter than those associated with probation. When a person doesn’t follow parole rules, he or she can face a parole violation.
If you are facing a probation or parole violation, you need to understand some basic points. One of these is that you are facing possible jail time. This means that you need to learn your legal rights immediately so you can decide how to fight the violation.