How does probation work/what exactly is it? Especially in helping people recover from addictions.
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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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