John Augustus 
Probation is a form of a suspended sentence, in that the jail or prison sentence of the convicted offender 
is resuspended, for the privilege of serving conditions of supervision in the community. Conditions of 
probation often include: report to a probation officer, submit random drug screens, do not consort with 
known felons, pay court costs, restitution, and damages,  attend AA or NA courses, as well as other 
conditions. Probation lengths vary greatly, as do the conditions of probation place on an individual. Almost 
all people on probation will have at least one condition of probation. Some have many conditions, depending 
on the seriousness of the conviction, while others are just a blanket condition that is imposed on all in that 
jurisdiction, or for that conviction type. Juvenile Probation Departments were within all States in the 1920s, 
and by the middle of the 1950s, all States had adult probation. 
Probation Officers 
Probation officers usually work directly for the state or federal government, but that can be directed 
through local or municipal agencies. Many Counties will have a community justice level structure where 
Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
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