NCJ Number
86831
Date Published
1982
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This supplement to a 1980 report details changes and trends in adult probation statutes and practices in the United States and Canada, both on a national and State or provincial basis.
Abstract
A summary of trends in the United States comments that shock probation continues to increase whereby a prison sentence is changed to supervised probation within 60 to 120 days after the defendant begins serving the prison term. In addition, more States are assessing the costs of prosecution and probation services against the defendant and adding community service to the usual probation conditions. The report lists States where minor or no changes occurred in adult probation services from 1980 to October 1982 and then summarizes changes for the remaining 30 States. On the State level, it notes that Minnesota continues its elaborate sentencing guidelines for judges and that Tennessee permits pretrial or preplea inquiry into a defendant's consent. The document surveys Canadian laws governing probation and discusses relationships between the national government and the provinces. This review emphasizes that probation may not be ordered for major criminal offenses for which minimum penal terms have been written into the statutes. While the Canadian statutes are national, the trials are by provincial courts. Changes in the provinces and territories regarding probation are described which cover salary increases, probation conditions, qualifications for probation officers, and revocation.