ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the contemporary arrangements by which probation is provided, monitored, and revoked. It explains the differences between diversion, standard probation, and intermediate sanctions and describes the different roles and functions of probation officers. The chapter also describes the best practices in reducing probationer recidivism and the personal and offense-related characteristics of probationers. Cash-strapped governments in 11 states contract with private firms to monitor hundreds of thousands of misdemeanor probation cases. Probation is the conditional freedom granted to an offender by a court. It is a test of whether the probationer can live in the community without committing new crimes or violate the conditions of release into the community. Judicial reprieve has a direct link to modern probation. John Augustus was a wealthy shoemaker when he began an 18-year association with the Boston courts in a quasi-official role where he supervised individuals convicted by the court but released into his care for a period of time, something he called probation.
