Modern Criminal Jurisprudence recognizes that no one is a born criminal and that many crimes are the product of socio-economic milieu. The present trend in the field of penology is that effort should be made to bring about correction and reformation of the individual offenders and not to resort to retributive justice.The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 was placed on the statute book with a view to provide for the release of offenders of certain categories on probation or after due admonition and for matters connected therewith. The object of the Act is to prevent the conversion of youthful offenders into obdurate criminals as a result of their association with hardened criminals of mature age in case the youthful offenders are sentenced to undergo imprisonment in jail. The above object is in consonance with the modern trend in the field of penology, according to which efforts should be made to bring about correction and reformation of the individual offenders and not to resort to retributive justice.

Table of Contents

1.   Short title extent and commencement
2.   Definitions
3.   Power of court to release certain offenders after admonition
4.   Power of court to release certain offenders on probation of good conduct
5.   Power of court to require released offenders to pay compensation and costs
6.   Restrictions on imprisonment of offenders under twenty-one years of age
7.   Report of Probation Officer to be confidential
8.   Variation of conditions of probation
9.   Procedure in case of offender failing to observe conditions of bond
10.  Provision as to sureties
11.  Courts competent to make order under the Act, appeal and revision and powers of courts in appeal and revision
12.  Removal of disqualification attaching to conviction
13.  Probation Officers
14.  Duties of Probation Officers
15.  Probation Officers to be public servants
16.  Protection of action taken in good faith
17.  Power to make rules
18.  Saving of operation of certain enactments
19.  Section 562 of the Code not to apply in certain areas