When you are arrested for a crime there will be a record of the arrest. It is important to take action to keep harmful notations off of your record, and agreeing to a term of probation is one way to keep your record clean. A clean record will help you to get a better job, can help you to rent an apartment or home in a desirable neighborhood, and may even help you when applying to school. But going on probation is not an automatic right, and there are certain requirements you must meet before the State will agree to this way of resolving a criminal case.
Two things to know about what it takes to be placed on probation include the following:
- Your record must already be clean. If there are prior convictions noted on your history you will not qualify for probation.
- You cannot have any record of prior felony charges having been filed against you. If you do, you are not eligible to use probation as a way to resolve the current case against you.
You will also be required to enter a plea in order to be placed on probation. Depending on the type of case, you may have to enter a guilty plea to the charges. This does not mean you will be found guilty, but if you make a misstep during your probationary term it does become possible the ultimate result will be a guilty verdict. But, if you are able to comply with all of the rules of your probation you can avoid the entry of a finding of guilt in your case. Being able to stay out of jail, along with no finding of guilt, is the purpose of probation. If you have been charged with a crime and are considering negotiating for a term of probation, you should only do so after a competent defense attorney reviews your case. Call us first to find out what you can expect, so you can make a decision about what is best for you. Sometimes the requirements of probation can be hard to meet, but you can be successful while on probation. We are here to help make sure that happens and to help you avoid a probation violation.
For help with probation violation cases, call a competent criminal defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast for help. We offer representation for a wide range of offenses, call us to schedule an appointment.