If you are currently “out on probation” as many people call
it, you should, first of all, be proud of yourself: probation allows convicted
offenders to live their daily lives outside of jail and is only granted
to people who can make a positive impact on society and others. Secondly,
you need to do all you can to follow the terms and regulations of your
probation as closely as possible. If probation is violated, inadvertently
or intentionally, it can constitute a criminal act of its own and carry
high fines and incarceration.
What Are Typical Probation Guidelines?
The whole idea of probation is that you do not have to stay in jail or
prison, but you
do need to check in with a probation officer at regular intervals. This person
will be tasked with making certain that you are adhering to all the rules.
If you are not, they have to report back to headquarters and you will
be in for some trouble.
Actions that can be considered in direction violation of most probations include:
1. Missing probation officer meetings
2. Lying to your probation officer
3. Refusing to participate in court-ordered rehabilitation programs
4. Getting arrested for any reason
5. Leaving the state of your probation without express permission
6. Possessing or using illicit substances
7. Carrying or discharging a firearm, even on firing ranges
With all the ways it may be possible for you to violate probation, it can
understandably feel as if you are constantly under the government’s
supervision. In some ways, you are, but it is important to remember that
you wouldn’t have been given the option of probation in the first
place if the court didn’t think you could complete it.
If you
are convicted of violating your parole, penalties could include:
· Extension of original probation term
· Entire removal of probation (returned to jail if sentence incomplete)
· Addition jail time, if sentence has been completed
· House arrest or electronic monitoring device (anklet)
You should also remember that
probation violations are not automatic and exempt from the criminal justice system. You will
have a chance to defend yourself before a judge and either prove that
you did not violate your violation should not be punished. For help with
such a delicate matter, you can
contact our Brockton criminal defense attorneys at South Shore Criminal Defense for a
free case evaluation today.