Rules for Probation in MDOC

The Mississippi Department of Corrections offers probation as an alternative punishment to incarceration. For probation to be a viable alternative, it is only offered to certain inmates and only under certain conditions.

Non-Adjudicated Probation

• Non-adjudicated probation is a form of probation that allows the offender's record to be expunged upon completion of the probation period, instead of the court accepting a guilty plea and proceeding with incarceration. The person must be a first-time offender. Prior felony convictions, violent offenders, certain drug offenders and felony DUI offenders are not eligible.

Suspended Sentence

• The most widely used method of probation in Mississippi is suspended sentence. With suspended sentence, an inmate who has plead guilty to a crime and has served some prison time can have the remainder of the sentence suspended and be placed on probation. The inmate must meet certain requirements to be eligible for probation which can can be either supervised or unsupervised.

Requirements

• Felons on probation are required to: commit no further offenses, avoid dangerous habits, avoid disreputable characters/environments, report to the parole officer as required, permit parole officer visits as necessary, obtain and keep a job, remain within a designated area, pay outstanding fines, support any dependents and submit to required drug tests.