Probation & Community Corrections

About community control

Community control — commonly called probation — is a period of court-ordered supervision served in the community instead of, or following, a term of incarceration. The Probation Department supervises individuals on community control, monitors compliance with the court’s orders, and connects participants with the treatment, education, and employment resources that support a successful, law-abiding return to the community.

The department also prepares pre-sentence investigation reports (PSIs) to assist the court at sentencing and provides pretrial supervision services.

Supervision levels & reporting

Supervision levels are set using a validated risk assessment. Individuals assessed at a higher risk report more frequently and are monitored more closely. Depending on the level, supervision may include scheduled office visits, home or field visits, electronic monitoring, and random drug and alcohol testing.

Conditions & programming

The court has adopted a single set of standard conditions of supervision that apply to everyone placed on community control or probation, and it may add special conditions tailored to the case. The standard conditions include:

• Reporting to your probation officer as directed, and conducting yourself in an orderly manner and not under the influence when you report or appear in court
• Obeying all federal, state, and local laws, and reporting any arrest, citation, conviction, or contact with law enforcement by the next business day
• Keeping your probation officer informed in writing of your address, employment, phone number, email, and source of income
• Not leaving the State of Ohio without written permission from your probation officer and approval from the court
• Not possessing firearms, ammunition, deadly weapons, dangerous ordnance, or chemical spray
• Not using or possessing alcohol or controlled substances, and submitting a blood, breath, or urine sample on the demand of a probation or law enforcement officer
• Consenting to a search without a warrant of your person, electronic devices, vehicle, or residence by a probation officer
• Completing any program you are ordered to complete and providing proof of completion
• Obtaining and maintaining employment if you are physically and mentally able
• Not associating with people who have a criminal background or gang affiliation without your officer’s prior permission
• Paying court-ordered financial obligations, including a community control supervision fee of $50 per month, child support, and restitution — your probation officer sets the payment schedule

This is a summary. The complete, numbered conditions — the document you sign — are in the PDF at the bottom of this page.

Reporting to the Probation Department

The Probation Department is located in Room 300 of the Meigs County Courthouse. The probation check-in kiosk is down the hall to the right, near the end of the hallway on the left-hand side.

Anyone in contact with Probation may be asked to provide a urine sample for a drug screen, so check in with Probation before using the restroom. The department can be reached at (740) 992-4635.

Violations

If a person violates the conditions of community control, the court may hold a hearing. Possible outcomes include a warning, additional or more restrictive conditions, extended supervision, a jail term, or imposition of a prison sentence that was reserved at the original sentencing.