An offender is sentenced to probation when the court determines that custodial care (prison) is not neccessary in order to dissuade further crime.
The offender is subject to scutiny under a 3 year period from the date for the original sentence. A sentence to probation usually involves a one year period of supervision followed by a two years of so called "provisional freedom" during which the casefile is still open but no supervision occurs. Should the offender conduct herself unsatisfactorily (e.g. new crime) during this period then the offender can be re-sentenced to either a new period of active supervision or custodial care (prison).
During the first year of probation
(the year of supervision) the offender is required to have regular contact with a probation officer and the probation officer is to be kept informed about the offenders place of residence, daytime occuppation and means of financial support etc.