Supervision of a probationer or parolee is designed to instruct him/her to observe certain conditions in his/her normal life as well as to provide him/her with necessary guidance and support,with the aim of assisting him/her in reforming and rehabilitating oneself.

The types of probationers and parolees and their respective periods of supervision are as follows:
(i)Juvenile probationer: a juvenile placed on probation by the decision of a family courtIn principle,the period of supervision is from the date of decision of probation to the probationer's20th birthday.In case of a probationer over18years of age,the period is two years from the date of decision.
(ii)Juvenile parolee: a juvenile granted parole from a juvenile training schoolIn principle,the period of supervision is from the date of release on parole to the parolee's20th birthday.
(iii)Adult parolee: an inmate granted parole from a penal institutionThe period of supervision is from the date of release on parole until the remainder of the parolee's sentence expires.
(iv)Adult probationer: an offender given suspended sentence with probationary supervisionThe period of supervision is from the date of decision finalized until the probationer's suspended period expires.
(v)Women's guidance home parolee: a woman granted from a women's guidance homesThe period of supervision is from the date of release on parole until the remainder of the parolee's guidance disposition period expires.

  Probation and parole supervision is usually carried out cooperatively by a probation officer and a volunteer probation officer for a probationer or parolee.It is a combination of the expertise of a professional probation officer and nongovernmental character of a volunteer probation officer,one of features of the probation system in Japan.