Probation Violations
Probation may be granted by the court as a suspension of part or all of a jail sentence after an individual has been convicted of a crime. In addition to reporting to a probation officer, a person may need to follow other conditions of his or her probation, including counseling, drug treatment, paying fines or fees, and more. Probation is conditional, meaning it may be revoked if the person does not comply with all of the terms mandated by the court.
There are different ways that a person may be accused of violating probation. Some potential examples of probation violations include the following, though these may vary depending on the particular terms the probationer was required to comply with:
- Failing to report to probation officer
- Associating with known criminals
- Drug or alcohol abuse / failing drug or alcohol testing
- Violating a restraining order
- Failing to pay a court-ordered fine
- Failing to complete community service
- Failing to complete a court-ordered drug or alcohol rehabilitation program
- Being arrested for another crime
- Violating any other terms/conditions of probation
Penalties for Violations of Probation
When a person violates probation, this may result in his or her immediate arrest. He or she will typically have the right to a hearing, at which point the alleged violation can be challenged, but if the probationer is found guilty of committing the violation, he or she may face serious penalties.
The nature of the violation and whether the probationer has violated probation in the past will influence the severity of penalties that he or she faces. Probation may be extended, additional requirements may be added, or probation may be revoked and the probationer may face the full term of incarceration that would have been enforced for the original crime he or she was convicted of.
Learn more about your rights in the face of an alleged probation violation. Click here to find a local criminal defense lawyer.
