Probation is a punishment of individuals due to their criminal actions imposed by a judge usually instead of serving time in jail. It is the process when the convicted person lives in the community for a certain period of time though has to follow special conditions enforced by the court and is often supervised by a probation officer. Probationers must obey officer's orders; very often they are not permitted to leave the country, possess firearms and may not be able to change the residence or employment without the consent of the probation officer and are required to pay costs of the supervision. In most jurisdictions probation is a sentencing option for misdemeanors and many felonies, which are commonly called "probationable" offenses (BJC). The advantage of this kind of punishment is that the convicted person is not negatively influenced by other criminals who are not ready to follow society's rules. Some of the former probationers refuse to commit acts of crime afterwards on penalty of being sentenced to an imprisonment in jail for several years next time they do something unlawful. Probation is a punishment that is an illusion of freedom, which is very much different than being behind bars. Many people in life are given second chances, though not all take advantage of the generosity of society. They take it as a free pass to commit more crimes. Some do use this time to change their lives, but the statistics have shown, it is not successful in helping everyone, and only adds to the cost, and burden of the government. It is obligatory to know legal laws of your country. But demands to professional law officers are even higher as they need to know laws backwards and forward. Professional paper writers with juridical background will prepare custom essays on legal topic that will definitely help improve your knowledge.