A judge may sentence someone to probation as an alternative to jail time. While the person gets to live in the community instead of being incarcerated, they do have to follow specific conditions, which may include:
- Meeting regularly with a probation officer
- Maintaining employment or attending school
- Undergoing drug testing periodically
- Being drug-free
- Not breaking any laws
The length of the probation can vary, including many years. Once probation is successfully completed, the person is free and no longer under the probation conditions. However, if the person breaks the probation conditions, they could be put in jail.
