Probation & Parole consists of managers, supervisors, officers, investigators, program staff and support staff across the state of Idaho working in district offices. The staff provide several different services including supervision, investigation, educational and behavioral programming, and monitoring of approximately 16,000 clients either on probation or parole. Probation & Parole holds the core values that community protection is the first priority in supervision, that clients are responsible and must be accountable for their own behavior, that clients can change for the better if provided the right opportunities and that everyone is entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.

What is Probation?

In Idaho probation is governed directly by the courts. Probation & Parole is tasked with monitoring supervision and compliance of clients as officers of the court. Probation is the result of suspending the sentence of a person convicted of a felony offense and granting that person the opportunity to remain in the community in lieu of imprisonment. Clients assigned to probation may be given a suspended sentence or withheld judgment. A withheld judgment is a sentence that has not been imposed and the possible conviction is set aside once the client successfully completes a probationary period. The courts govern all probation conditions.

What is Parole?

In Idaho parole is governed directly by the Commission of Pardons & Parole. Probation & Parole oversees the supervision of parolees in the community. Parole is the release of a resident from imprisonment to the community by the Commission of Pardons & Parole prior to the expiration of his or her sentence, subject to conditions imposed which include a term of supervised release. Parolees are required to abide by certain terms and conditions set by the commission, and parole officers monitor client compliance. Parolees generally have the same terms and conditions as probationers and are required to participate in community programming.