What is the difference between Parole and Probation

Instead of being incarcerated, probation and parole are two alternatives in which the offender’s conduct is closely monitored in accordance with legal requirements. In this blog, we will understand the difference between Parole and Probation. Probation is a court-imposed penalty where the offender is not incarcerated but instead remains in the community under the condition of good behaviour and supervision by a probation officer.

On the other hand, parole, which is also known as supervised release, lets an inmate out of jail before the end of their sentence, either temporarily or permanently, as long as they follow the rules of their release.

If you are studying criminal law, you should keep these two ideas in mind and know the difference between them. Because of this, we’ve made the difference between probation and parole easier to understand.

What is Probation?

Instead of sending the person who is accused straight to prison or jail, the judge gives them probation so that they can show that they want to change. For this reason, probation means that a criminal is freed from police custody as long as they follow certain rules about being good.

As with probation, the accused person must follow the court’s rules and stay under the watchful eye of the probation officer during this time. To put it another way, if a person is given probation, they don’t have to go to jail and can stay in society as long as they follow the rules set by the probation officer and don’t break any laws.

What is Parole?

Sometimes someone is let out of jail for a short time or permanently, but they have to follow the rules set by the parole board. As an example, they have to follow the rules and not break any laws or hurt anyone. They also have to go to meetings with their parole officer and not leave a certain area without permission. In other words, a prisoner is only let out of supervised release after he has served some of his original jail time.

Moreover, they must obtain permission before leaving a designated area, among other stipulations. Therefore, a prisoner is only granted release from supervised release once they have completed a portion of their initial prison sentence.

People on parole are expected to do good things for the community, change, and follow the rules. If they don’t, they will be sent back to jail because of their original sentence. So, parole lets a criminal back into society before the end of his original jail sentence. In this case, someone who gets 3 years in jail can get out after 2 years on parole.

The Most Important Differences Between Parole and Probation

When talking about the difference between probation and parole, the following points are important:

• Criminals are given probation, which means they stay out of jail as long as they follow the rules set by the court and are supervised by a police officer. Getting parole means that a prisoner can be released early, but only if they agree to be supervised by the authorities. If they don’t follow the rules, they will be sent back to jail.
• Instead of jail time, the judge may give probation. Parole, on the other hand, is just a form of conditional release from prison.
• A person who is accused or suspected is put on probation by the court. On the other hand, the parole board decides whether a prisoner can get out of jail.
• The accused is given probation before they are sent to jail. This way, even though they are sent to jail right away, they are given a chance to change their behavior through this process. In contrast, parole is granted to criminals after they have served a certain amount of their prison sentence.
• People who have never been convicted of a crime before and people who have committed crimes that did not involve violence are given probation. As an alternative, criminals who are already in jail can get parole, as well as serious offenders who promise to behave well while serving their time.
• Upon being granted probation, individuals are required to regularly report to their assigned probation officer. If individuals fail to comply, they may face the consequence of being returned to incarceration for a specified duration. Conversely, an individual who is on parole is required to regularly meet with their parole officer. If individuals fail to report without a valid justification, they are returned to prison to serve their initial sentence.

Conclusion

Both probation and parole involve keeping an eye on people who have been convicted of a crime, but they are not the same thing. When someone is sentenced, they can either go on probation or parole. Probation lets people serve their time in the community while being supervised, and parole lets criminals out of prison before they finish their full sentence. Understanding the differences between probation and parole is important for everyone, including people who work in the criminal justice system, who wants to know how offenders are reintegrated into society.

Frequently Asked Questions

In India, what’s the difference between parole and probation?

When someone is found guilty, the court gives them a sentence called probation. Parole is just a plan for getting prisoners out of jail for a short time. Probation is an alternative to jail time that is given instead of jail time. Parole is given while someone is in jail.

In the UK, what’s the difference between bond and parole?

People in the UK can get parole, which means they can get out of jail early if they agree to certain conditions, before the end of their maximum sentence. Probation, on the other hand, is an alternative to prison where people serve their time in the community while being watched and meeting certain requirements.

What’s the difference between furlough and parole probation?

Parole and furlough both let prisoners go for a short time, but prisoners can only get parole if they ask for it, while they are automatically granted furlough.

What does the idea of probation mean?

“Probare,” meaning “to test” or “to get better” in Latin, is the origin of the English word “probation.” In other words, probation is a period of proof. Offender treatment without incarceration is the goal of probation.