What Does Alcohol Probation Mean?

Understanding alcohol probation.

Probation is the sentence for a variety of alcohol-related offenses. Alcohol probation is designed to provide both punishment and rehabilitation for individuals convicted of a crime involving alcohol.

Uses

Alcohol probation is widely used as punishment for first-time DUI offenses, underaged drinking and public intoxication offenses.

Supervision

An objective of alcohol probation is monitoring the offender to protect the public. Typically this means regular breath tests to confirm sobriety. Testing includes having to blow into a device installed on a car or reporting to the probation office for testing randomly throughout the week.

Rehabilitation

Counseling and therapy usually are elements of alcohol probation. The goal is to assist an offender in overcoming alcohol abuse.

Punishment

In many cases, punishment takes the form of community service and fines as part of an alcohol probation program.

Misconceptions

A common misconception is that alcohol probation is a slap on the wrist. An offender avoids jail upon successful completion of alcohol probation. Nevertheless, there are significant requirements such as community service, counseling and even electronic monitoring.

References

• "Probation, Parole and Community Corrections"; Dean J. Champion; 2007
• "Probation and Parole: Theory and Practice"; Howard Abadinsky; 2008
• American Probation and Parole Association

Resources

• American Bar Association: Section of Criminal Justice