History of Community Supervision

• In the city of Boston in 1841, John Augustus petitioned the court for the first release of a prisoner into his care. He successfully reformed his first charge, and although law enforcement resisted these changes, he eventually prevailed and more people were released into his custody. By 1852, he secured the release of over 1,100 persons, including young children. In 1878, Massachusetts became the first state to enact probation legislation, and all states followed suit by 1930.
  
  

Terms and Conditions

• Probation and parole terms and conditions vary somewhat between locales, but usually include similar requirements. The offender must pay court fees, see the supervising officer, attend any counseling mandated, complete volunteer hours, remain law-abiding and drug-free, remain gainfully employed and have no contact with other criminals or with the victim in the case. In some situations, additional terms, such as sex offender, white collar, gang-related or domestic violence terms, address those who commit specific crimes.
  
  

Supervision Types

• Various supervision types address the different needs of offenders, from very low risk to extremely high risk. Some offenders need only to complete a diversion program, such as a shoplifting class or alcohol education class, and the case will be dismissed. Other offenders may be granted summary probation and do not need to report to a probation officer. Most individuals on probation or parole receive standard supervision and must report to their community release officer as directed in addition to complying with all terms and conditions of their release. Other offenders live in transitional homes and may not leave these without permission. Intensive probation, similar to home arrest, includes curfew checks and 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week home checks. Monitoring through electronic surveillance such as GPS systems or ankle bracelets also offers restrictive supervision for high-risk offenders.
  
  

Violations and Consequences

• Probationers or parolees may commit two types of violations--technical or new charges. Technical violations mean the offender has violated one of the supervision terms, such as not paying fines, not reporting or not attending counseling. A new crime, considered more serious, means the offender could face two separate penalties--one for the original crime and one for the new offense. Violations mean the offender may faced enhanced sanctions, such as a longer supervision period, more structured supervision or additional counseling. The courts may sentence the offender to prison as well.