If you have been charged with a crime your most important goal is probably to stay out of jail. This is because if you are behind bars you are not able to go to work and support your family, and you also don’t get to enjoy the same freedoms as you did prior to being incarcerated. It is also harmful to have a criminal record, because some employees and even schools do not want to hire or accept for enrollment an individual that has done jail time. So for many criminal defendants, working out a deal that keeps them out of jail is a critical part of their case. This is most typically accomplished by agreeing to a term of probation, which allows a defendant to stay out of jail while being punished for their crime. The trick is to follow the rules of probation, so you do not have your probation revoked and end up in jail anyway. Most people know that this means staying out of trouble by not having any new charges filed against them but there are other ways probation can be violated and result in sending a defendant to jail.
Three technicalities that are defined as probation violations include:
- Failing to check in with your probation officer, or missing a meeting that has been scheduled.
- Forgetting to pay the fees and costs associated with your case.
- Leaving town without permission.
You might even violate your probation simply by failing to give a new address to your probation officer. These things seem harmless enough, and for the most part they really are harmless. But when you agree to go on probation you agree to abide by all of the rules in place. If the rules require you to check in with your probation officer weekly, be sure not to miss an appointment. If you are unable to attend, it is best to call and reschedule so there is no chance that your officer will mark you absent. Part of probation is showing that you are accepting responsibility for your actions, and this can be done by going where you are supposed to go, when expected. If you have questions about what you are supposed to do while on probation, be sure and ask for answers. Claiming you were unclear on the terms of your probation is not a defense to a violation. For help with probation violations call one of our knowledgeable attorneys today.
For more information about probation and probation violations, call an experienced defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. We offer an initial consultation for no charge, and look forward to helping you resolve your case.