You should treat your probation order as a privilege since you remain in normal society instead of serving your sentence in jail or prison. With that, you must abide by its terms and conditions precisely. Otherwise, you can expect a summons for your court appearance. It is best not to panic, but you should take the proper precautions ahead of your court date. If this has happened to you, please follow along to find out what to expect from your probation violation hearing and how a proficient Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you get the most ideal outcome possible.
Why was I ordered to appear at a probation violation hearing?
Your probation officer is a court official who has been ordered to supervise you throughout your probation sentence. They may help you rehabilitate and reintegrate into normal society so you may not commit a repeat criminal offense. But also, they may ensure that you adhere to the court-ordered terms and conditions of your probation.
And so, your officer holds a responsibility to file a Violation of Probation complaint with the New Jersey criminal law judge who granted you a probation sentence in the first place. From here, the judge may schedule a probation violation hearing to hear both sides of the case, determine whether or not you committed a violation, and potentially enforce additional consequences.
What outcome can I expect from my probation violation hearing?
You may have a valid reason for accidentally violating your probation order. Or, it may have been just one complete misunderstanding. With this, the judge may simply reinstate your probation, where you may follow the same terms and conditions for the rest of your sentence.
If they can sympathize enough, they may order the same for your minor violation. With this, though, they may at least revoke your compliance credits. As you may know, compliance credits are granted as you follow the terms and conditions of your probation order, and enough may add up to earn you a reduced sentence.
However, if your violation was more than minor, the judge may rule to modify your probation order. These modifications may be stricter, such as requiring you to meet with your probation officer more frequently or extending the duration of your sentence.
In a worst-case scenario, especially if you are found guilty of committing another criminal offense, the judge may revoke your probation order. That is, they may have you serve the original sentence that was suspended when they graciously placed you on probation. This may mean serving jail or prison time and paying hefty fines. Of note, in the instance that you committed another crime, you may face double the amount of penalties.
No matter what, you do not need to feel alone in this process. A talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer is ready to be in your corner and support you throughout. So please reach out to Graves Andrews, LLC whenever you are ready.
