• All conditions of probation must be followed.expression image by Daniel Wiedemann from Fotolia.com
  
  Being sentenced to probation can be an alternative to incarceration for some offenders, or it may be a period of supervision after incarceration. There may be many rules stipulated by the court as conditions to the probation and all of the rules have to be followed. If the rules imposed are not followed, the probation may be revoked and the offender remanded into custody and jailed for the term of the probation. The probation officer's role is not to be the enemy of the offender, and may actually be a great help to the offender, but he will enforce all the rules strictly.
  
  

Report on Time

• Reporting to the probation officer on time as scheduled is one of the most important rules of probation. The probationer has to keep in touch with the probation officer and report any changes in address or phone number. Failure to report can lead to a probation violation.
  
  

Pay All Fines and Restitution

• One of the court imposed rules may be to pay restitution. The restitution will usually be broken up into monthly payments and in some cases once the restitution is paid off a request for early release from probation can be requested in court. There is also usually a fee that is paid every month to the probation officer for being on probation. Again, not meeting the financial requirement may lead to revocation of the probation.
  
  

Do Not Commit Any New Offenses

• While on probation the offender must make sure to not be involved in the commission of any additional crimes. The probation officer will do a regular check to make sure that the probationer is keeping his nose clean. It is important that the offender not be associated with other offenders. This may mean not associating with old friends.
  
  

Maintain Employment

• Since there is usually a financial aspect to being on probation, one of the requirements of the probation may be to actively seek and maintain gainful employment. This may include working a minimum amount of hours and reporting all income. There may even be a stipulation of what kind of work the offender can perform depending on the offense that was previously committed.
  
  

Comply With Drug Testing

• Most probationers will initially have to go through drug testing even if their offense was not drug related. For those who have a history or offense dealing with drug use, there may be regular and random drug testing that will have to be complied with. There may also be drug counseling and treatment. Any positive drug test results may lead to revocation of the probation.