Probation and Parole: A Comparative View

Probation and parole are the primary alternatives to jails and prisons while there are many similarities between these two systems there are a few obvious differences. One difference is evident in their definitions. Probation is defined as "releasing the convicted offenders into the community under a conditional suspended sentence, avoiding imprisonment, showing good behavior under the supervision of a probation officer" (Black, 1990:1202 cited in Champion, 2005, p. 131). Parole is defined as "the conditional release of a prisoner from (either prison or jail) under supervision after a po…