What are the Different Levels of Probation For an Arizona Offense?

Arizona has a rehabilitative approach to punishing a person convicted of a criminal offense. As much as possible, they want the convicted individual to be able to reinstate themselves back to society, hence offering probation as one of the options of punishment.

 

Probation isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach and is often tailored depending on the crime the individual was convicted of.

The Levels of Probation

There are three main levels of probation: summary probation, supervised probation, and intensive probation supervision.

Summary Probation

The lowest level of probation is summary probation. Usually granted to misdemeanor offenders, summary probation is unsupervised, requiring no meetings or check-ins with a probation offer. Depending on the offense, this informal probation level lasts one to five years and is only granted to those who are not seen as a danger to the community. 

Supervised Probation

The second level of probation is called supervised probation. Here, a probationer is assigned a probation officer who they need to meet, check-in with, and report to from time to time. The terms of the probation also impose some limitations on their rights and restrict certain freedoms.

 

Supervised probation is usually granted in felony convictions, as well as some misdemeanor offenses. Depending on the offense, supervised probation can have stricter terms and restrictions. This applies in cases that involve:

• Sex offenses
• White-collar convictions
• Domestic violence
• Driving under the influence

If the probationer violates any terms of their supervised probation, the court can increase their restrictions and move them up to intensive probation supervision.

Intensive Probation Supervision

The strictest level of probation in Arizona is called intensive probation supervision or IPS. Considered as the last level of probation a convicted individual can get before going to prison, IPS imposes strict rules and steps that a probationer needs to take so they can earn their way back to a lower level of probation.

 

Intensive probation supervision is a 9-month program, during which the probationer needs to abide by the rules and restrictions. If they violate probation terms, the court may revoke their probation and send them to prison.