Probation and its various forms: According to the official government website by Prince William County (PWC), Virginia, probation is a sanction ordered by courts that "…allows a person to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer." The probation sentence could also include time in jail, a financial penalty, community service, and other sanctions (PWC). There are several kinds of probation, including: a) unsupervised probation (this is generally only available for very petty crimes); b) supervised probation (this requires regular contact with a probation officer and includes specific rules -- no alcohol, etc. -- that must be adhered to); c) community control (in this case the person on probation may be under house arrest and/or have ankle monitoring); and d) shock probation (the judge in this case may put the probationer in prison just to shock him, then release him on probation) (LaMance, 2012).

Probation and recidivism: A report by the Justice Strategies group shows that in 2006, nationwide, 18% of people who exited probation were "…incarcerated due to failure...

iv). The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) presents data that show (in 2011) "…Two-thirds (66%) of probationers competed their terms of supervision or were discharged early during 2011, about the same percentage as in 2010." The BJS reports that 5.5% of probationers "…at risk of failing were incarcerated at some point during 2011," and that is the same rate of recidivism as in 2010 (BJS).
Types of offenders suited for probation: It appears that the offenders who are convicted of petty crimes (theft, DUI, pickpockets, receiving stolen goods, illegal breaking and entry, minor drug offenses, etc.) -- especially those arrested for the first time -- are best suited for probation. They were not violent and they did not use weapons or threaten harm to anyone. They should get a second chance to prove they can abide by the law.

Types of offenders not suited for probation: these would include violent criminals, rapists, drug smugglers, repeat felons, those using weapons in a robbery, those committing homicides, terrorists and others guilty of serious…