Probation is a court-ordered period of correctional supervision in the community, generally as an alternative to incarceration. In some cases, probation can be a combined sentence of incarceration followed by a period of community supervision. Parole is a period of conditional supervised release in the community following a prison term. It includes supervision following a discretionary or mandatory release from prison and other types of post-custody conditional supervision, such as a term of supervised release.

The following are national statistics:

• During 2009, the number of offenders on probation or parole
—community supervision population—declined (down 0.9%)
for the first time since the BJS began its Annual Probation
Survey and Annual Parole Survey in 1980.

• The probation population decreased by 0.9% during 2009 as
probation entries declined (down 2.4%) and the number of
probation exits exceeded entries by 33,900.

• The percentage of probationers who completed the terms of
their supervision or were discharged early increased between
2008 (63%) and 2009 (65%), contributing to the decrease
observed in the probation population.

• During 2009, the total parole population decreased by 0.7%.
While the federal parole population increased by 5,232 during
2009, this increase was offset by a decline of 10,758 in the state
parole population.

• Parole entries decreased (down 1.2%) during 2009 and the
number of parole exits exceeded entries by 5,200, leading to a
decline in the total parole population.

• The percentage of parolees who completed the terms of their
supervision or were discharged early rose between 2008 (49%)
and 2009 (51%), contributing to the decrease observed in the
total parole population.

• The rate of return to incarceration—based on all parolees who
were at risk of violating the conditions of their supervision—
declined between 2006 (15%) and 2009 (14%).