When individuals are found guilty of a crime, probation is one potential sentence of the charge and can be a way to deal with your criminal case without going to jail.
However, complying with probation is important, as even one probation violation will result in court appearances and potential jail time.
This is why it is imperative that you clearly understand the conditions of your probation, so you are able to comply with them and avoid any violations.
Understanding the Conditions of Your Probation
Once you have been placed on probation, you will be assigned a probation officer who will outline and advise you on the conditions of your probation—basically all the terms, rules, and requirements you must follow.
There are a few common probation categories, including:
- Administrative probation
- Community control probation
- Drug offender probation
- Mental health probation
- Sex offender probation
The conditions of each probation sentence are different per each individual and offense. Your attorney will be able to help clarify the terms to help you avoid violating them.
Two Types of Probation Violations
In addition to probationary categories, there are two primary types of probation violations—technical and substantive.
Both result from violating the conditions of your probation in one way or another. Violating one of them is easier than you may realize and can lead to severe consequences.
Technical violations are just that, they are technical slip-ups, such as missing a scheduled meeting with your probation officer, skipping a child support payment, violating curfew, or failing to complete a drug or alcohol test.
In contrast, substantive violations are when you are found to have committed another criminal offense for which you could be arrested.
A Florida Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help with Your Probation
Understanding your probation’s terms and conditions is essential to helping you avoid probation violations or further penalties and consequences.
Speaking with an experienced defense attorney can help you better understand any technical jargon and conditions of your probation sentence. He/she can also guide you through this challenging time.
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in Florida or have been placed on probation and need the expertise and assistance of a criminal defense attorney, we encourage you to contact the team at Apfelbaum Law today.
