Correctional Control by Type 1975-2016 
Probation is not a right, and it is not a suspended sentence. It is a privilege, but it most certainly comes 
with conditions for the suspension of the incarceration. Due to how cheap probation is, relative to jail or 
prison, and the ability for lower-risk individuals to maintain connections within their community, millions 
of people will be on probation in the United States at any given time. 
Other important factors that help to decide if a person warrants probation is within the PSI and other 
assessments are done on the individual. If the person is basically, a prosocial person, has an education and a 
job, has a family, these would all be considered as ties to the community. These ties to the community could 
weaken or break if a person was incarcerated. Thus, providing a sanction while allowing the person to stay 
in the community is often the approach that is utilized within probation and other intermediate sanctions. 
Probation Success 
There are mixed reviews about probation. Recently, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2018 report, for 2016. 
1 listed the successful completion rate at about 56%. In years past, this number has been reported higher, 
upwards of 65%, depending on the years 2008-2013. 
2 There are a host of reasons listed for unsuccessful 
completion, which include: incarcerated on a new sentence/charge, or placement for the current sentence/
1. Kaeble, D. (2018). Probation and Parole in the United States, 2013. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of 
Justice Statistics, April 2018, NCJ 251148 https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus13.pdf 
2. Huberman, E. J., & Bonczar, T. P. (2014). Probation and parole in the United States, 2013. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice 
Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, October 2014, NCJ 248029 https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ppus13.pdf 
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