# KRS § 533.020: 533.020 Probation and conditional discharge > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.020 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 533.020 - **Heading:** 533.020 Probation and conditional discharge - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title L / Chapter 533 / Section 533.020 ## Text 533.020 Probation and conditional discharge. (1) When a person who has been convicted of an offense or who has entered a plea of guilty to an offense is not sentenced to imprisonment, the court shall place him on probation if he is in need of the supervision, guidance, assistance, or direction that the probation service can provide. Conditions of probation shall be imposed as provided in KRS 533.030, but the court may modify or enlarge the conditions or, if the defendant commits an additional offense or violates a condition, revoke the sentence at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the period of probation. When setting conditions under this subsection, the court shall not order any defendant to pay incarceration costs or any other cost permitted to be ordered under KRS 533.010 or other statute, except restitution and any costs owed to the Department of Corrections, through the circuit clerk. (2) When a person who has been convicted of an offense or who has entered a plea of guilty to an offense is not sentenced to imprisonment, the court may sentence him to probation with an alternative sentence if it is of the opinion that the defendant should conduct himself according to conditions determined by the court and that probationary supervision alone is insufficient. The court may modify or enlarge the conditions or, if the defendant commits an additional offense or violates a condition, revoke the sentence at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the alternative sentence. (3) When a person who has been convicted of an offense or who has entered a plea of guilty to an offense is not sentenced to imprisonment, the court may sentence him to conditional discharge if it is of the opinion that the defendant should conduct himself according to conditions determined by the court but that probationary supervision is inappropriate. Conditions of conditional discharge shall be imposed as provided in KRS 533.030, but the court may modify or enlarge the conditions or, if the defendant commits an additional offense or violates a condition, revoke the sentence at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the period of conditional discharge. (4) The period of probation, probation with an alternative sentence, or conditional discharge shall be fixed by the court and at any time may be extended or shortened by duly entered court order or as modified by the Department of Corrections through the application of probation program credits under KRS 439.268. Such period, with extensions thereof, shall not exceed five (5) years, or the time necessary to complete restitution, whichever is longer, upon conviction of a felony nor two (2) years, or the time necessary to complete restitution, whichever is longer, upon conviction of a misdemeanor. Upon completion of the probationary period, probation with an alternative sentence, or the period of conditional discharge, the defendant shall be deemed finally discharged, provided no warrant issued by the court is pending against him, and probation, probation with an alternative sentence, or conditional discharge has not been revoked. (5) Notwithstanding the fact that a sentence to probation, probation with an alternative sentence, or conditional discharge can subsequently be modified or revoked, a judgment which includes such a sentence shall constitute a final judgment for purposes of appeal. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 533.010 533.010 Criteria for utilizing chapter -- Alternative sentences -- Monitoring by private agency -- Work release](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.010.md) - [KRS § 533.015 533.015 Alternatives to incarceration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.015.md) - [KRS § 533.017 533.017 Sentence to local day reporting program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.017.md) - [KRS § 533.020 533.020 Probation and conditional discharge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.020.md) - [KRS § 533.025 533.025 Rate of payment by department to county for incarceration of persons in jail -- Payment of work release fees to jailer and deduction from department's payment -- Department's custody of prisoner for specified medical conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.025.md) - [KRS § 533.030 533.030 Conditions of probation and conditional discharge -- Restitution to victim](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.030.md) - [KRS § 533.040 533.040 Calculation of periods of probation and conditional discharge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.040.md) - [KRS § 533.050 533.050 Arrest of defendant on probation or conditional discharge -- Notice and hearing -- Exception under KRS 439.3108](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.050.md) - [KRS § 533.060 533.060 Probation or conditional release -- Effect of use of firearm -- Other felonies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.060.md) - [KRS § 533.065 533.065 Effect of person wearing body armor and carrying deadly weapon at time of offense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.065.md) - [KRS § 533.070 533.070 Sentencing of defendant to work at community service related projects](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.070.md) - [KRS § 533.200 533.200 Form of sentencing for convicted persons who have not received a graduation certificate or High School Equivalency Diploma -- Exceptions for an individual with a severe intellectual disability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.200.md) - [KRS § 533.210 533.210 Conduct of program -- Costs -- License](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.210.md) - [KRS § 533.220 533.220 Failure to complete reading skills improvement program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.220.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TL_C533_S533.020. 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