Smyrna Probation Violation Lawyer
Going to jail is never fun. Depending on the crime, you may be in jail for many years. But in some cases, you may be released on parole for good behavior.
For some crimes, you may never go to jail at all. Instead, you may serve probation. Probation is similar, except the jail sentence is suspended. If you don’t meet the terms of your probation, then you could go to jail.
Probation is a privilege, not a right. Not following the rules set out for you can result in a hearing that could revoke your probation and land you in jail.
You surely don’t want this, but it happens. And you may be unaware that you were even breaking a law. That’s why you need someone on your side who can serve as your advocate. Smyrna probation violation lawyer Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. can assist you with your case.
How Does Probation Work?
Probation is served instead of a prison sentence, and it requires you to abide by specific rules and restrictions. You must meet with a probation officer, who will monitor progress and ensure you comply with all terms and conditions required by the judge. These probation officers are in place to babysit you, in a sense, and make sure you do everything the court asks you to do. In addition, you must not get arrested again or else you will violate probation and be put in jail.
You may be surprised to know that most criminal cases are resolved with probation instead of jail time.
There are two types of probation available in Georgia: supervised and unsupervised.
Supervised probation means you report to a probation officer at least once a month. You will take a drug and alcohol test and your probation officer will check that you are abiding by all conditions ordered by the Judge. You repeat this process every month until the end of your sentence.
Unsupervised probation after some time of supervised probation. This is when you no longer have to meet with a probation officer face-to-face. You still have obligations, though, such as paying fines and court fees. To be unsupervised, you must complete community service and take all required classes and evaluations.
Common Probation Violations
You may be accused of violating probation by doing the following:
- Missing court or probation meetings
- Failing alcohol and drug tests
- Failing to pay fines or restitution
- Failing to maintain employment
- Not completing community service
- Crossing state lines
- Committing a new crime
- Associating with felons
Contact Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. Today
Violating probation is a serious offense that can land you in jail. This is the last thing you want. Count on Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. to start working for you right away. We can build a defense against the allegations you face and help you preserve your freedom. Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Smyrna probation violations lawyer today by calling (678) 853-2500.
