Parole is not probation
Parole is the supervised release of a prisoner before the completion of their prison sentence. Parole should not be confused with probation. A person placed on parole serves the remainder of a sentence outside of prison, whereas probation is given instead of a prison sentence.
Nonetheless, many of the conditions of parole mimic those of traditional probation. A parolee will be required to report to a parole officer, maintain steady employment, avoid drugs and alcohol, or any other conditions required by the state.
Violations of parole conditions may result in revocation of parole status. This means that a parolee will be ordered back to prison to serve the remainder of the sentence behind bars.
There is no parole in the federal system
A prisoner must serve the entire length of any federal sentence imposed, minus any “good-time” received by the Bureau of Prisons. After a sentence is completed, a prisoner will be placed on supervised release for a period of time.
Supervised release is not probation or parole; however, the judge will impose specific conditions of supervised release that are similar to probation and parole.
Violations of supervised release are treated as new offenses.