Supervision occurs after individuals have pled guilty or been tried and found guilty and after they've been released from incarceration.
The court will sentence a defendant to probation or to a term of incarceration followed by a term of supervised release. Probation is a court ordered sentence issued as an alternative to jail or prison. Individuals under supervision (probation or supervised release) are assigned to a probation officer who is responsible for monitoring individuals and ensuring they comply with the conditions ordered by the court and obey laws.
Supervision in the federal system is:
- A core responsibility of U.S. probation and pretrial services officers, along with investigation.
- A way to monitor the activities and behavior of people released to the community by the federal courts or paroling authorities.
- An opportunity to help individuals reintegrate into the community.
- In the case of probation, a punishment that is less severe than imprisonment, but still holds people accountable for breaking the law.
- An alternative to jail or prison that costs less than incarceration and gives people charged with or convicted of federal crimes the opportunity to live with their families, hold jobs, and be productive members of society.
Conditions of Supervised Release
At the start of an individual’s supervision, a probation officer will fully explain the conditions of his or her release. These conditions include the mandatory conditions of release which the court imposes on all supervisees, and may include discretionary conditions which the court imposes to provide probation officers with the authority to address risk related issues specific to a particular individual. Special conditions may include, among other things, location monitoring, substance abuse testing or treatment, mental health treatment, and the disclosure of financial information.
Process of Supervision
The process of supervising an individual begins with a probation officer evaluating the individual through an interview and risk assessment tool, which allows the officer to identify factors that must be taken into account in developing the individualized supervision plan. From the start and throughout supervision, the officer will assess and reassess the potential risk that a supervisee poses to another person or the community, and address any other needs. Continued assessments allow the probation officer to adjust his or her personal contact and interventions accordingly. The supervision plan developed by the officer will address any dynamic risk factors and will support successful completion of supervision.