Most people will qualify for probation. Those who do not qualify are generally as follows:
You are charged with a Class 1 felony (e.g., murder in the first degree) or class 2 petty offense;
If you have two prior felony convictions (unless you’re currently charged with certain drug crimes);
If you have one prior felony conviction in the last ten years, and are currently charged with a class 1, 2 or 3 felony;
If the statute prohibits probation in your case.
In the end, probation is at the sole discretion of the judge; no one has a right to it. This means that the judge may consider the nature and circumstances of the offense, your criminal history, whether you have successfully completed a term of probation in the past, whether probation would benefit you, or a myriad of other reasons in making the decision to grant probation.