What Does Alcohol Probation Mean?

Uses

• Alcohol probation is widely used as punishment for first-time DUI offenses, underaged drinking and public intoxication offenses.
  
  

Supervision

• An objective of alcohol probation is monitoring the offender to protect the public. Typically this means regular breath tests to confirm sobriety. Testing includes having to blow into a device installed on a car or reporting to the probation office for testing randomly throughout the week.
  
  

Rehabilitation

• Counseling and therapy usually are elements of alcohol probation. The goal is to assist an offender in overcoming alcohol abuse.
  
  

Punishment

• In many cases, punishment takes the form of community service and fines as part of an alcohol probation program.
  
  

Misconceptions

• A common misconception is that alcohol probation is a slap on the wrist. An offender avoids jail upon successful completion of alcohol probation. Nevertheless, there are significant requirements such as community service, counseling and even electronic monitoring.