The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

This edition of The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (Act 20 of 1958) serves as a comprehensive and authoritative reference on the law relating to the release of offenders on probation or after due admonition, with the aim of rehabilitating them and preventing recidivism.

The book presents the bare text of the law—precisely as enacted—without commentary or interpretation, making it ideal for statutory referencing, academic study, and judicial application. It ensures direct access to the provisions that empower courts to adopt reformative measures instead of imposing imprisonment in suitable cases.

The content spans the full scope of the Act, including:

• Powers of courts to release offenders after due admonition or on probation of good conduct

• Provisions for supervision by probation officers during the probation period

• Conditions attached to the order of probation and consequences of breach

• Applicability of the Act to offenders under different age groups, including first-time offenders

• Guidelines for courts in determining the suitability of probation in lieu of imprisonment

• Duties, responsibilities, and powers of probation officers

• Financial and administrative arrangements for implementing probation orders

• Special provisions regarding youthful offenders and women

• Saving clauses and applicability in relation to other criminal laws

• Jurisdictional and procedural aspects of passing probation orders

This edition is particularly suitable for:

• Judicial officers and magistrates applying probation provisions in criminal cases

• Legal practitioners specialising in criminal law and sentencing

• Probation officers and correctional service authorities

• Academicians, criminologists, and law students studying reformative justice systems

• Policymakers and NGOs working in offender rehabilitation and reintegration

Whether used in courts, correctional services, legal practice, or academic research, this edition delivers the full legislative authority of The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, as applicable in 2025.