I have a friend who is a snow bird. Like a lot on people, he goes up north for the summer. Before he left last year, he was arrested for DUI. When his time came to leave, he did so without thinking about his parole status. When he came back, he was surprised to find that the police were looking for him in reference to his parole violation.
What is involved with parole violations?
Until a probationary period is completed successfully, anyone serving probation is subject to the severest penalty provided for the offense for which they are on probation. A person serving probation for a first-degree misdemeanor who violates probation can be sentenced to jail for up to 1 year and fined $1,000.
Technical Probation Violations — A technical violation is one in which someone failed to comply with one of the required terms of their probation. This could be missing a scheduled meeting with the PO or failing to regularly attend counseling, or providing “dirty urine.” While still entitled to seek an arrest warrant, probation officers typically issue a notice to appear so the probationer can attend a court hearing on the issue. If a probationer continues to collect technical violations, a judge is authorized to impose any reasonable sanction or none, as they see fit.
Thinking that serious punishment has been escaped because a court “only” sentenced a person to probation is a serious miscalculation. Until a probationary period is completed successfully, anyone serving probation is subject to the severest penalty provided for the offense for which they are on probation.
If a person is on probation for a second-degree felony, a violation of that probation can result in a judge imposing a 15-year prison term.
If you think you may have an issue with parole violations, call Alex Truluck. Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.