On Probation

Community sentencing can also allow offenders to make amends for their crime. These include:

compulsory unpaid work (Community Payback) such as removing graffiti, cleaning up derelict areas or working for charities

community supervision, which involves meeting regularly with a probation officer to help change attitudes and behaviour

curfews, where an offender must stay indoors at certain times, from April 2009 they can be electronically tagged to monitor the curfew

addressing issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, which can lead to offending

addressing certain types of offending behaviour, such as persistent drink-driving, domestic violence or sex offending

If an offender breaks the requirements of the Community Order, they will be returned to court. In some cases, offenders may be re-sentenced and sent to prison.

Research has shown that probation is effective. Sixty-six per cent of offenders on Probation Orders and Community Service Orders were not reconvicted within two years.

What does probation mean for an offender?

Offenders on probation must comply with rules and requirements specified by their Court Order or Release Licence. If they break these rules, they face enforcement action, which includes the risk of being sent to prison. For example, offenders must attend regular supervision sessions with their probation officers. If they fail to attend without a valid explanation they will be returned to court.

Other requirements can include:

completing specific programmes
completing alcohol and drug treatment
staying in approved premises
staying away from the area where a crime was committed