1. A court-imposed criminal sentence that, subject to stated conditions, releases a convicted person into the community instead of sending the criminal to jail or prison. Cf. PAROLE. [Cases: Sentencing and Punishment 1811.] — probationary, adj.
bench probation. Probation in which the offender agrees to certain conditions or restrictions and reports only to the sentencing judge rather than a probation officer.
— Also termed bench parole; court probation.
deferred-adjudication probation. See deferred judgment under JUDGMENT.
shock probation. Probation that is granted after a brief stay in jail or prison. • Shock probation is intended to awaken the defendant to the reality of confinement for failure to abide by the conditions of probation. This type of probation is discretionary with the sentencing judge and is usu. granted within 180 days of the original sentence.
— Also termed split sentence. Cf. shock incarceration under INCARCERATION. [Cases: Sentencing and Punishment 1936.]
2. The act of judicially proving a will. See PROBATE. — probate, adj.
