The Texas Family Code authorizes the use of community supervision in lieu of incarceration to compel compliance with a court order for child support or possession/visitation.  The code authorizes a Domestic Relations Office to supervise the terms and conditions of community supervision of parents placed on probation with the DRO.

Community Supervision requires all probationers to report at a minimum each month to their officer.  The officer will thoroughly review the case file and make an assessment of the probationer's record.  Referrals will be made for life skills that can assist the probationer.  The probationer can expect swift intervention if not in compliance.

Each probationer is assigned to an officer who will encourage compliance and provide ongoing counseling.  Ongoing assessment by the officer will ensure that appropriate life skill referrals are made so that probationers can improve their lives.  Those referrals include (1) education assistance, (2) employment counseling, (3) alcohol and substance abuse intervention, (4) financial planning, and (5) parenting classes.

Courts have the authority to place a parent on community supervision for up to 120 months (ten years).  The Court may approve early termination if the probationer has satisfactorily complied with the terms of community supervision prior to the termination date.

The officer will recommend a motion to revoke to be filed against the probationer.  After the motion to revoke is filed the judge will sign an arrest warrant and the probationer will be apprehended by law enforcement authorities.  A hearing will then be held to determine if the probationer's community supervision shall be revoked.  If community supervision is revoked, the probationer may be subjected to incarceration in the county jail.