The Process That Occurs After A Probation Violation
If you are currently serving a probation sentence as a consequence of a criminal charge, you might be very worried about your future if you violate any term of your probation. If you violate your probation, you will have to go through a legal process that generally involves four steps.
Step 1: Get arrested
The first step in the process typically involves an arrest. When you break probation by committing a crime, you will likely be placed under arrest for your actions. If you get arrested and are in jail, you will likely be stuck there until the case closes, as you will not be able to bond out. Bonding out is not always an option with probation violations.
Step 2: Attend a bond hearing
The next step in the process is attending a bond hearing, which is the initial appearance you must make in front of the court after violating probation. During this hearing, you will find out if the court is willing to let you bond out, but there is a good chance that they will not allow this.
Step 3: Attend a probation violation hearing
After the bond hearing, the court will schedule a probation violation hearing. This hearing may take place quickly, such as within a week or two, or it might take months. It depends on the court and on other factors as well. During this hearing, the judge will hear your side of the story as well as the prosecution's side. It is up to the judge to determine if you actually violated your probation, and it is also up to the judge to decide how to handle the punishment of your crime.
Step 4: Find out your sentence
The final stage in the process is hearing your sentence. The sentence you receive might be very severe, or it might be very easy. It will depend on the nature of the violation, your criminal history, and many other factors. If the judge did not find you guilty of violating your probation, you will have fewer consequences to face. If the violation was due to a crime you committed during probation, you will face hearings for the legal process required to prosecute the crime you allegedly committed.
If you are worried about the situation that you are in and you want the best outcome possible, you should hire a criminal defense attorney to assist you with your case.
For more information, contact a law firm like Shefferman Law.