Final answer:
A convicted offender being free in the community under court-imposed conditions is on probation, which is different from parole and is part of the corrections system.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a convicted offender is allowed to remain free in the community, subject to court imposed conditions and under supervision, this situation is referred to as probation. Probation differs from parole, which is the release of a prisoner before the completion of their sentence, with conditions for their remaining time.
Both probation and parole are parts of the corrections system designed to reintegrate individuals back into society, often involving oversight by correctional officers and adherence to strict guidelines such as counseling sessions and activity reporting. Failing to abide by these conditions can lead to individuals being returned to jail.