In legal documents, what term refers to the act of maintaining supervision over an individual after release from prison?

The term that refers to the act of maintaining supervision over an individual after release from prison is "parole." Parole is a conditional release that allows an inmate to serve part of their sentence outside of prison under certain terms and conditions, typically involving supervision by a parole officer.

Probation, while also a form of supervision, usually occurs as an alternative to incarceration for individuals convicted of a crime, allowing them to remain in the community instead of serving time in prison. This distinction is key; parole specifically relates to individuals who have been incarcerated and are released early, while probation often pertains to supervision instead of incarceration for those not sentenced to prison time.

Supervision is a broader term that can apply to both parole and probation, but does not specifically denote the legal standing or the conditions of release from a prison setting. Confinement, on the other hand, refers to the act of being held in custody and does not involve supervision after release.