What Are Probation Violations??

Probation is a common penalty associated with a criminal conviction. When a judge sentences an individual to probation, he or she will clearly explain the guidelines the defendant is to abide by. Anytime a person violates one of the guidelines set forth by the judge, he or she will be in violation of probation and will likely face additional criminal penalties.

While each person’s probation sentence is different, there are common violations that do occur. Examples of probation violations include:

• Failing to comply with a court order, such as:
  • Failure to submit to drug testing
  • Failing a drug test
  • Failure to perform community service
  • Failure to complete treatment, rehab, or education classes
• Failure to appear in court when scheduled
• Failure to pay a court fee, fine, or penalty
• Failure to meet with a probation officer
• Getting arrested or committing a crime while on probation
• Associating with known criminal offenders while on probation
• Leaving the area

It’s very important to make every effort not to violate your probation. As you can imagine, judges don’t look favorably on this and may sentence you to additional penalties, such as jail, extended probation, more hours of community service, license suspension, and additional fines.

If you have been charged with a probation violation, you should speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney right away. An attorney can defend you before the judge and may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed. If you have a genuine excuse for why you violated your probation, an attorney can make this information known to the judge in an effort to help you avoid additional penalties.

For more information about probation violation defense, click here to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer today!