Supervision occurs after individuals have been placed under conditions of release, 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 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 a probation officer who is responsible for monitoring individuals and ensuring they obey laws and comply with the conditions ordered by the court.
Supervision in the federal system is:
- A core responsibility of U.S. Probation Officers, along with investigation.
- A way to monitor the activities and behaviors of people released to the community by the federal courts or paroling authorities.
- An opportunity to help individuals reintegrate into the community.
- 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.
In the case of probation, supervision is a sentence that is less severe than imprisonment, but still holds people accountable for breaking the law.
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 that the court imposes on all individuals, and may include discretionary conditions used to address risk related issues specific to a particular individual. Discretionary conditions may include, among other things, home detention, 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 their individualized supervision plan. From the start and throughout supervision, the officer will assess and reassess the potential risk that an individual poses to another person or the community, and address the individual's other needs. Continued assessments allow the probation officer to adjust his or her personal contact and interventions with the individual accordingly. The supervision plan developed by the officer will address any obstacles that may impede an individual’s ability or desire to complete supervision successfully and will provide for services, such as substance abuse or mental health treatment.