10 Mar 2023
Criminal Defense
Parole and probation are two terms you might have used interchangeably in the past. These are both forms of correctional supervision. You might have never been concerned about the difference between them before until one became a reality for you. If you are on parole or probation, you must understand the terms of your sentence and what you can and cannot do. The last thing you want to do is mistakenly violate your sentence because there was confusion regarding what the court expected of you.
If you run into trouble and are accused of violating your parole or probation sentence, the criminal defense attorneys of Lermitte & Lubin can help protect your freedom. Learn more about the differences between parole and probation.
Parole in Pennsylvania
Parole is granted to individuals who have already served time in prison. This allows them to serve the rest of their sentence outside of prison while still under supervision. Because of this, you may get out of prison earlier than originally anticipated, but it doesn’t mean you gain total freedom. At what point in an individual’s sentence they can be granted parole can vary. Additionally, not everyone serving a prison sentence is eligible for parole in the future. Parole is considered a privilege, so how an individual acts during their incarceration can affect whether or not the court believes they can safely reintegrate into society. Some common conditions of parole include:- Reporting to a parole officer
- Submitting to searches
- Avoiding any criminal activity
- Attending counseling
- Submitting to drug and alcohol testing
- Not traveling outside of a certain area without permission
- Not possessing illegal weapons or drugs
Probation in Pennsylvania
While an individual would have had to spend at least a short amount of time in prison before they can be granted parole, the court may order probation instead of requiring the individual to serve time in prison. Although the individual may not need to serve their time in prison, they don’t have the same freedoms as other members of the community. Those who have been granted parole gain this privilege after their initial sentence, while probation is part of an individual's initial sentence. Probation often has many of the same conditions as parole. This can include:- Reporting to a probation officer
- Not possessing illegal drugs or weapons
- Submitting to drug and alcohol testing
- Maintaining employment or training
- Completing counseling
- Refraining from traveling a certain distance
- Submitting to searches