What if I'm Charged With Another Crime While on Probation?
If you’re on probation, you’ve been through the criminal justice system before. We can bet that you didn’t enjoy your jail or prison sentence. Being on probation requires you to report to your probation officer, submit to drug and alcohol screenings on demand, and adhere to a curfew in some cases.
Fortunately, this is only for a limited amount of time while you reacclimate to your life back at home. But, what happens if you are charged with another crime while you’re currently on probation? Continue reading to find out.
Violating Your Indiana Probation
There are a number of different ways you can violate your probation. Some examples include failing a drug test, failing to appear for a scheduled court date, failure to report to your probation officer, or failure to cease further criminal activity.
A probation violation is a serious offense and the consequences for doing so can sometimes be as severe as the penalties for the crime you were most recently charged with.
Possible Outcomes
First, depending on the type of crime you’ve been charged with, you could be given a warning. Or, the judge presiding over your case can request that you appear in court for a probation violation hearing. Your probation officer will, at that point, likely request that you be penalized for your violation.
The prosecutor and your probation officer will need to prove, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that you violated your probation. If you are found guilty, the judge can sentence you to a short amount of jail time or even revoke your probation altogether. If this happens, you’ll be expected to fulfill the remainder of your initial sentence before you can be released.
Keep in mind that your probation violation is an entirely separate matter from your new charges, and your attorney can help you avoid a conviction in both situations.
Contact an Indiana Probation Violation Lawyer
Being charged with one crime is bad enough, but when you’re already on probation, you could find yourself in a far worse predicament. If you haven’t already, schedule your no-obligation consultation with a regarded Indiana probation violation lawyer at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm. You can do so by completing the convenient contact form below or by calling our office at 1-812-232-7400.
