Advantages of Probation
Probation allows some flexibility in the handling of criminal offenders. It permits judges to make discretionary decisions about an individual's ability to function in society, giving them more options than simply sending an offender to prison. Probation is a system of "second chances" that simultaneously maintains monitoring mechanisms over offender. It provides individuals a chance to redeem themselves and monitors their behavior and progress to prevent them from committing crimes again.
Disadvantages of Probation
Millions of people are "in the system" under probation, a fact that has been criticized by sociologists, constitutional rights activists, civil rights leaders and others, who claim that ensnaring so many people in the criminal justice system is injurious to both the individual and society. Other critics of probation may claim that it gives criminals too much scope in letting them live freely when they should, in fact, be imprisoned.