Probation and Parole Violations

After committing a crime, an individual may be put on probation for a period of months or years. During this time, the individual may be ordered to follow very specific guidelines to comply with the terms of his or her probation.

Similarly, individuals who have been sentenced to prison may be eligible for parole if they exhibit good behavior while imprisoned. Parole allows individuals to leave prison and live their normal lives as long as they comply with a set list of rules for a pre-determined amount of time.

These terms may vary from person to person, but they usually require regularly scheduled meetings with a probation or parole officer, drug tests, and travel restrictions. Additionally, individuals may be required to hold a job while under probation or parole, and many are prohibited from consuming alcohol.

When individuals fail to show up to their scheduled meetings, fail drug tests, or leave an area to which they are restricted, they may be taken off of probation or parole and re-sentenced. For individuals on probation, this could mean an extended probation period or a prison sentence.

For paroled individuals, failure to comply with parole guidelines almost always means a return to prison to finish out their original sentences.

It is a crime to violate probation and parole terms, so individuals who are charged with this crime are advised to employ the help of an experienced probation and parole violations defense lawyer to help them fight the charges against them.

It is important to note that a criminal defense lawyer does not guarantee that an individual will win his or her case. Rather, a lawyer can help an individual build and fight his or her case, giving him or her a better chance at victory in most cases.