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Probation

Probation

Probation refers to adult offenders whom courts place on supervision in the community through a probation agency, generally in lieu of incarceration. However, some jurisdictions do sentence probationers to a combined short-term incarceration sentence immediately followed by probation, which is referred to as a split sentence. Probationers can have a number of different supervision statuses, including active supervision, which means they are required to regularly report to a probation authority in person, by mail, or by telephone. Some probationers may be on an inactive status, which means they are excluded from regularly reporting, and that could be due to a number of reasons. For instance, some probationers may be placed on inactive status immediately because the severity of the offense was minimal or some may receive a reduction in supervision and therefore may be moved from an active to inactive status. Other supervision statuses include probationers who have only financial conditions remaining, have absconded, or have active warrants. In many instances, while on probation, offenders are required to fulfill certain conditions of their supervision (e.g., payment of fines, fees or court costs, and participation in treatment programs) and adhere to specific rules of conduct while in the community. Failure to comply with any conditions can result in incarceration.
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Probation and parole populations in the U.S., 1994 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EDT                            BJS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 1995                             202/307-0784

THE NATION'S CORRECTIONAL POPULATION TOPS 5 MILLION

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than 5.1 million Americans--or
almost 2.7 percent of the adult population--were under some form
of correctional supervision last year, the Department of Justice
reported today.   Almost three-quarters of these men and women
were being supervised in the...

Probation and Parole Populations, 1995 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE    

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EDT         BJS
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1996            202/307-0703

PROBATION AND PAROLE POPULATION REACHES 
ALMOST 3.8 MILLION

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There were almost 3.8
million adult men and women on probation or parole
at the end of 1995, an increase of about 119,000
during the year, the Department of Justice
announced today.  The 3.2 percent increase was...

Probation and Parole Populations, 1996 

     U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
     
     
     
     
     
     
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT      BJS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1997        202/633-3047
     
     
           
NATION'S PROBATION AND PAROLE POPULATION
REACHED ALMOST 3.9 MILLION LAST YEAR
     
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost 3.9 million
adult men and women were on probation or parole
at the end of 1996, an increase of about 128,000
during the year, the Justice Department reported
today.  The number of offenders...

Substance Abuse and Treatment of Adults on Probation, 1995 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST        BJS
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1998             202/307-0784
         
ALMOST HALF OF ALL PROBATIONERS UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
WHEN COMMITTING THEIR OFFENSE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Almost half of the men
and women on probation in the United States were
under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at
the time of their criminal offense...

Characteristics of Adults on Probation, 1995 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M., EST       BJS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1997        202/307-0784


NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF ALL PROBATIONERS
HAD SOME RECENT CONTACT WITH THEIR PROBATION
OFFICERS

Almost 3.2 million Adults on Probation


     WASHINGTON -- Almost three-quarters of all
probationers had had some type of contact with
their probation officers during the month
before being surveyed, the Justice Department's
Bureau of Justice...

Probation and Parole Populations, 1997 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT           BJS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 1998               202/307-0784

NATION'S PROBATION AND PAROLE POPULATION
REACHED NEW HIGH LAST YEAR

     WASHINGTON,  D.C. -- More than 3.9 million
adult men and women--a new record--were
on probation or parole at the end of 1997, the
Justice Department's Bureau of  Justice Statistics
(BJS) announced today.  The 2.9 percent increase
of about...

Probation and Parole in the United States, 1998 

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT                           BJS
SUNDAY,  AUGUST 22, 1999                                        202/307-0784 
                
         U.S. CORRECTIONAL POPULATION REACHES 5.9 MILLION OFFENDERS

     WASHINGTON, D.C.   The combined federal, state and local
adult correctional population grew by 163,800 men and women during
1998 to reach a new high of 5.9 million people, the Justice
Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today. 
This includes incarcerated inmates and probationers and...

Probation and Parole in 1999 

EMBARGOED UNTIL 4:30 P.M. EDT                            BJS
SUNDAY, JULY 23,  2000                          202/307-0784 
                


U.S. CORRECTIONAL POPULATION REACHES 6.3 MILLION MEN AND
WOMEN REPRESENTS 3.1 PERCENT OF THE ADULT U.S. POPULATION

     
     WASHINGTON, D.C.   The number of adult men and women
under the supervision of Federal, state and local
correctional authorities rose to a record 6.3 million in
1999, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics
(BJS) announced today...

1995 Survey of Adults on Probation (SAP)

The 1995 Survey of Adults on Probation obtained for the first time detailed data on the background and characteristics of a nationally representative sample of 2.5 million adults on probation in 1995. Specific topics of information include demographic characteristics, criminal history, prior drug and alcohol use, participation in drug and alcohol treatment programs, use of firearms, victim characteristics, the conditions of supervision, and the extent...

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2000

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT BJS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2001 202/307-0784
Revised 8/28/01

NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL POPULATION REACHES NEW HIGH -- GROWS BY 126,400 DURING 2000 TO TOTAL 6.5 MILLION ADULTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation's combined federal, state and local adult correctional population reached a new high of almost 6.5 million men and women in 2000, having grown by 126,400 men and women...

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2001

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT BJS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2002 202/307-0784

U.S. CORRECTIONAL POPULATION REACHES 6.6 MILLION

One in 32 Adult Residents Incarcerated or Under Community Supervision

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The adult U.S. correctional population reached a record of almost 6.6 million men and women at the end of 2001, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today. This was an...

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2002

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT Bureau of Justice Statistics
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2003 Contact: Stu Smith
  202/307-0784

ONE IN EVERY 32 ADULTS NOW ON PROBATION, PAROLE OR INCARCERATED

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation's correctional population reached a record of more than 6.7 million adult men and women by the end of 2002, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today...

Probation and Parole in the United States, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bureau of Justice Statistics
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005 www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs
  Contact: Stu Smith 202-307-0703
  After hours: 301-983-9354

ALMOST 7 MILLION ADULTS UNDER CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION BEHIND BARS OR ON PROBATION OR PAROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The number of adults in prison, jail, or on probation or parole reached almost 7 million during 2004, the Department of Justice's Bureau of...