Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)

	Q. Is probation the alternative to prison?
A.	No. Though it is done with great frequency, referring to probation as "the alternative to prison" is misleading. Probation is by far the most frequently used sentencing option in the country -- nearly two-thirds of all convicted criminals are placed on probation. In Illinois, the number of probationers is approximately two and one-half times the prison population.