Spending time in jail is a real possibility. The most important first step is to be proactive and hire a lawyer immediately. After violating the conditions of their probation, clients often make the situation worse and stop reporting all together, afraid that their mistakes will send them straight to jail. A competent attorney can guide you through the process and begin to repair the damage.
Probation violations are often times more complex than the original case. The obvious goal is to have your probation reinstated, but there are many possible outcomes. If you previously entered a plea for deferred adjudication, you can be sentenced to the maximum jail time allowed for that particular crime. You are not entitled to any credit for all the months of probation you completed successfully. After your probation has been revoked, you will be arrested. It is possible to be released on bond until your case is resolved, but there are no guarantees.
The only thing you can count on is that the problem will not go away on its own. Probation violations occur in many ways – being charged with a new offense, failing to pay fines, court costs, probation fees or restitution timely, using drugs or alcohol, and not attending classes or completing community service hours are all common violations. You can be sure that each and every violation will be listed and used to make you look bad. Having an advocate to explain these issues and cast you in a positive light is key. We have extensive experience conducting probation revocation proceedings and have a record of success in helping clients avoid the harsh penalties they are facing.
