Verified by Licensed Bail Bond Professionals•Last updated: March 2026
Definition: A court-ordered period of supervision served in the community instead of prison. The defendant must comply with specific conditions set by the court, including regular check-ins with a probation officer.
Category: Sentencing · Statute: F.S. 948.01-948.09 · Source: Florida Legislature
Florida Statute 948.01 — When Court May Place Defendant on Probation"If it appears to the court... that the defendant is not likely to again engage in a criminal course of conduct... the court may... place the defendant on probation."
Standard Probation Conditions
- Report to probation officer as directed (usually monthly)
- Pay all court costs, fines, and restitution
- Maintain employment
- No new criminal offenses
- No possession of firearms
- Random drug testing
- Complete community service hours
Violation of Probation (VOP)
If a probation officer believes conditions have been violated, they file an affidavit and the court issues a VOP warrant. VOP hearings have a lower burden of proof than trials — the state only needs to prove a violation by "greater weight of the evidence" (preponderance), not beyond reasonable doubt.