main idea? When probation first began as a way to mitigate harsh English law, the courts used probation as a way to suspend a prison sentence, or to offer an alternative to prison. Misdemeanor offenses are processed at the local level, while the state largely becomes responsible for felony convictions. However, felons sentenced to community supervision rests with local jurisdictions. Today, probation is used in the same way as it was originally intended, except there are now two ways in which it is used. Probation can be a sentence in itself where a defendant is convicted but on probation, or probation can be used even earlier in the process as a form of diversion or deferred adjudication