Supervised release is a form of post-incarceration supervision by the United States Probation Office. In the federal system, many defendants serve a term of supervised release after completing their prison sentence. Supervised release provides a period of restricted freedom for recently released prisoners, often between one and five years, during which they must abide by the conditions of release and be supervised by a probation officer. A federal judge sets the supervised release term and conditions at the time of sentencing, and although not mandatory for most crimes, judges impose supervised release in approximately 75% of cases. If a former prisoner violates the conditions of supervised release, they may be sent back to prison, potentially to remain there until the end of the supervised release term. The judge retains jurisdiction over a defendants supervised release and will make decisions regarding early termination (for good behavior) or modification or revocation (for violations) .

Supervised release differs from parole in several respects. Parole is a form of early release of a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by certain behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or else they may be rearrested and returned to prison. Parole was replaced by supervised release for federal crimes. Probation is another form of post-incarceration supervision, but it is served in lieu of a persons prison sentence, and its a chance for the offender to serve their sentence in the community while supervised.