In the law, suspending a sentence imposed by a court, on certain conditions, often including good behavior, some kind of treatment, and supervision by a court-appointed professional probate officer. Juveniles convicted of a crime, especially a first offense, are often made wards of the court and put on probation; so are parents convicted of child abuse and neglect. Violation of set conditions may cause the probation to be withdrawn and the sentence to take effect; in the case of abusive parents, that may mean termination of parents’ rights.