Probation Violations

More people get arrested in Sarasota and Manatee County for a violation of probation than any other reason.  The County jail is full of people being held without bond for a violation of probation.  Probation, sometimes is a trap for the unwary.  You may have taken a plea deal to avoid trial or have simply followed the Public Defender’s advice and set yourself up for failure.

Technical Violation    

You do not have to commit a new crime to get arrested.  If you do not pay your court costs, if you do not pay the fees for supervision imposed by the Court, if you do not pay restitution or if you simply miss an appointment with your probation officer a warrant will be issued for your arrest.  Simply not having money to pay can get you arrested and thrown back in jail.  Our Sarasota and Bradenton criminal defense firm has been defending probation violations for years.  Do not wait to be arrested.  If you have a problem with your probation officer, call today and we may be able to work it out before you are picked up for a violation.

New Crime Violations

If you get arrested on a new charge while you are on probation, your probation officer will have you rearrested for a probation violation and you will sit in jail waiting for a hearing.  The new offense may be incredibly minor but if it occurred while you were on supervision, you have huge problem.  We may be able to convince the judge to release you while you wait for a probation violation hearing.  Any conviction for a new offense violates your probation and subjects you to time in either County jail or State prison.  Your sentencing guidelines may have been computed incorrectly or you simply may have not committed the new crime or violation.  Do not wait until your hearing.  Call us now for a free consultation.    

Sex Offender Probation Violations    

A violation of sex offender probation can land you in State prison.  Often, electronic monitors malfunction and register a false report.  Often, a probation officer fails to write down the details of your request or report to him.  Often the officer is simply out to get you and is searching for any reason to violate you.  You may have missed a deadline or appointment or forgotten to call in or come in past curfew.  You may have been forced to move suddenly and not had time to report the new address.  The probation officers generally are not there to help you and some simply look for some excuse to violate you put you back in jail.  A violation must be willful and substantial and we can many times convince the Court that your situation was accidental or unintentional.  If a loved one is in jail or if you have been arrested on a violation of probation call today.   Call today at 941 366 3506