Understanding the Difference Between Probation and Supervision

Being subject to probation or supervision after being found guilty of a crime is never an ideal situation to be in since your freedom will be limited to a large extent. However, either outcome could be a great alternative to jail time.

If you are facing criminal charges, you must gain a good understanding of your possible consequences. Understanding the true consequences of each possible outcome will enable you to make better decisions for your future, especially if you are offered a plea deal. The following are the key differences between probation and supervision in Illinois.

What is probation?A judge may decide to offer you a probation sentence if they believe that this will be beneficial in your rehabilitation. Probation is ordered with the intention of trying to prevent an offender from getting involved in criminal activity again. It may help them to create better habits and get their life back on track.While probation is ordered with good intentions for the offender, it is still a punishment in many ways. When you are on probation, you will probably be subject to a curfew, and you may need to avoid certain people and places. It’s likely that you will also need to undergo frequent drug testing, and this can be an inconvenience.What is supervision?A supervision sentence is much lighter than a probation sentence. A judge may sentence a defendant to supervision if guilt is found, but there is no conviction. In many ways, it is a state of limbo, because while a conviction does not occur, charges are not dropped either.

Supervision is usually ordered for a matter of months, but it could continue for up to two years. You may be ordered to do community service or to pay fines during this time. Supervision is a particularly beneficial alternative to a conviction in a DUI case because it would not lead to license revocation.

Overall, supervision is a much more lenient alternative to probation. Probation requires a conviction, but a supervision sentence does not. If you are facing criminal charges in Illinois, it is important that you take action to defend yourself and that you spend time learning more about the law.