Probation (supervised release)

Probation allows convicts to serve part of their sentence in the community under obligations. Well-behaved convicts within the statutory period remaining to their conditional release may leave the penal institution early and spend the balance under this regime.

The obligations include reporting to sign in, community service, participation in training programmes and bans on frequenting specified places, all monitored by probation directorates. The directorates also administer judicial-control measures, alternative sanctions and post-parole supervision.

Violating the obligations, or failing to report to the directorate in time, results in the remainder being served in the institution. Because eligibility periods and conditions shift with frequent amendments and temporary schemes in enforcement legislation, the current position in any specific case should be verified through the enforcement judgeship or counsel.