Probation is one of the key parts of criminal law, and these days it is widely used in practice. Probation is always defined as a period of time when law enforcement supervises the offender out of jail (Canton & Dominey, 2017). In this case, the court usually permits criminals to serve time at home, restricting many ordinary actions people used to do in normal life. For instance, in the United States, criminals sent to probation are prohibited from having weapons. In addition, they are not allowed to travel abroad or even to another state.
Moreover, they cannot store drugs and alcohol at home. The court usually sends officers once in a specific time period to ensure that all rules are followed. Some judges also decide to add extra security like CCTV or special anklets on the leg.
Probation applies to crimes that do not have huge harm to the environment or the population. According to Canton & Dominey (2017), probation refers to the illicit smuggling of mild drugs or alcohol. Moreover, in some states, people might get probation because of illegal alcohol production without a license. Probations might also be given for the creation of criminal organizations that have not been caught in a more serious crime. Judges usually look through the criminal history of every offender to understand the potential outcome of further decisions, and if someone has violent crimes, the probation might be denied. People with a negative criminal history may be sent to jail for committing a minor offense. Moreover, if people incarcerated at home break the set by the court rules, judges can cancel probation and send an offender to prison.
Reference
Canton, R. & Dominey, J. (2017). Probation. Routledge.