Have you been convicted of a Georgia felony or misdemeanor? If so, you may receive jail time, probation, or a combination of both.
During the probation period, you must adhere to specific requirements and rules. If you happen to violate your probation terms, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest. Along with being arrested, you may face other penalties.
While it can be challenging to adhere to probation terms, you must do. If you happen to be in a situation where you have violated your probation and are facing the consequences, it’s highly recommended that you contact our legal team at Hines Law. We will help you build a defense to prevent serious consequences from violating probation.
Keep reading to learn some of the potential consequences of violating your probation.
How You May Violate Probation in Georgia
There are three basic ways you may violate your probation in the state of Georgia. These include:
- Substantive violations
- Special condition violations
- Technical violations
Substantive Violations
A substantive violation occurs if you are arrested because you commit another criminal offense while still on probation. This type of violation will lead to the most severe consequences in most cases, but every situation differs.
Special Condition Violations
With a special condition violation, it means you did not fulfill a specific condition or requirement of your probation. This includes things like having no contact with someone who is under the protection of a restraining order, not maintaining suitable employment, or something else. Each person’s terms are unique, but you must adhere to all requirements to avoid violating your terms of probation.
Technical Violations
A technical violation means you have not met the technical conditions of your probation. This includes things like:
- Leaving the set jurisdiction
- Not reporting to your probation officer
- Not paying the set amount of restitution
- Not paying the set fees or fines
Avoiding a Probation Violation
The best way to avoid violating the terms of your probation is by knowing what these are. If you aren’t sure, talk to your probation officer, who can better help you understand what is allowed and what you should avoid.
If you are in a situation where you are facing a violation of a probation charge, it is a good idea to know what potential consequences you will face. This will help you better understand why you need to avoid doing this.
Potential Penalties for Violating Your Probation
If you are facing a probation violation, there are several potential consequences that you may face. Some of the most common include:
- Mandatory psychological or drug counseling
- More probation conditions
- More community service hours
- Significant fines
- Incarceration
- Extension of your initial probation period
- Revocation of probation
If you are accused of a probation violation in Georgia, you must attend a court hearing. Here, a judge will determine if a violation actually occurred and determine what punishment you should be given. To best protect yourself, you should contact our team for proper representations. Our team will work to refute the evidence against you and work to negotiate for you.
Building a Defense for a Probation Violation
Have you been accused of violating your probation terms? If so, it is a good idea to hire a violent crime attorney with experience handling these types of cases. Building a defense is challenging, and the situation may be complex. Because of this, having our services is highly recommended. Our team will review the situation, evidence, and terms of your probation to build a defense to help you minimize or eliminate the potential consequences that you will face.
We are here to help you with your situation. Contact Hines Law to schedule a free consultation today. Our team is here to help you and ensure you get the quality defense that you need for your probation violation situation. While it can be complex and confusing, our team is here to help.
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