How does probation work/what exactly is it? Especially in helping people recover from addictions.
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probation is usually a lesser punishment in lieu of jail/prison time. probation comes with conditions; like meeting with drug counselors twice a week and passing monthly drug tests, or spending time in a drug rehab facility (or any/all in combination)
Sometimes we have a lucid moment and admit that our jails don’t do a good job of rehabilitation for people. We reckon that some people probably aren’t *bad*, but they made a mistake, and if we keep them in jail for a few years they aren’t going to be in good shape when they get out and they’ll probably make the same mistakes.
That’s what probation is for. People on probation are technically supervised. They have to report regularly to a “probation officer”, and missing one of those meetups can get them sent back to jail. There are usually other conditions that can vary from person to person. They may have to go to therapy or enroll in some form of rehabilitation. Part of meeting with the probation officer is proving that they’re doing all of the things their probation requires. Getting arrested while on probation is *really* bad for the person, they’ll very likely end up in jail again without much chance for a lenient sentence.
The idea is if we’re right, and the person just made a mistake, they’ll get through the probation and be a better person. This is good for them because they didn’t have to sit in jail. It’s good for the jails because it’s expensive to jail people. It’s better for everyone because they’re holding a job and participating in society.
And if we’re wrong, well, that sucks. Those people go back to jail and stay there. We decided to do probation because we think it’s *better* to be right sometimes than it is to never give people a chance. (And also because it’s REALLY expensive to jail every single person for every single crime, we simply can’t afford it.)
probation is having a remote babysitter and if you brake babysitters rules youll go to time out (jail)
Probation is usually an alternative to jail. If your jail sentence was supposed to be 6 months, your probation might be 2 years. But you’re not free to do whatever you want during those 2 years.
If it’s a drug related offence, it’s likely that you might have: regular drug tests, regular hospital visits, regular appointments with a psychologist, and of course regular appointments with your probation officer. Missing one of those appointments, or failing a drug test may result in the court throwing you in jail to serve the rest of your sentence.
Your probation sentence might also have some restrictions, like “maintain employment” or “stay in your house from 11pm-7am daily”.
Probation relies on you checking off boxes (like attending the appointments or passing drug tests), and not showing up on law enforcement’s radar. For example, if you get pulled over going to your job at the warehouse, the outcome might be different than if the cops found you at a casino at 2am drunk (which would be a violation of your probation).
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