Probation Violations Lawyers
Violations of the law are actually fairly common. Over time, it is estimated that most Americans will break at least one law a week. For example, it is common for people to engage in activities while they drive such as failing to observe stop signs, forgetting to signal a turn and going at least slightly over the posted speed limit. Many Americans may accidentally have too much to drink and get behind the wheel when they are intoxicated. Others may have problems with the law while they young and generally more impulsive than adults. This can lead to minor brushes with the law that may lead to some jail time and then time on parole.
Some people also commit additional crimes that are considered to be more serious. This can include anything from theft to physical harm to another person. While some people commit acts that are considered so horrible they are not allowed out of jail, most people who commit any kind of crime will be offered at least some time on parole. Parole is a formal process where people have to report to official legal authority. They have a parole officer who oversees their behavior while on parole. Being on parole is not the same thing as being free from any kind of legal restriction. Those who are parole are subject to many types of restrictions on their behavior for a certain timeframe. Such restrictions can be relatively minor or they can include many types of conditions the person on parole must agree to abide by at all times.
Conditions For Parole
In general, those who are on parole need to follow certain restrictions for a given period of time. This can include a few months or several years. Some defendants may face parole conditions for the rest of their lives. For example, those who have engaged in sexual assault of a minor may be forever barred from living within a certain distance of local schools. They may also be forbidden from living in a home with a minor or entering certain professions such teaching or opening up a daycare in their homes. These restrictions can also include an agreement not to drink alcohol or to spend time with others who have similar criminal histories or are on parole right now. Such legal rules can ultimately be quite complex and very confusing. It is very easy for those who are on parole to run into legal trouble by accident.
Parole Violations
Parole is a change to get out of prison. People may be released from prison early because they have completed a certain term of their sentence and behaved well when behind bars. When people are given the opportunity to gain parole, this means they have some control over their lives. They are not behind bars where they must eat prison food, sleep in prison and engage in menial tasks around the prison that pay very little. They also have the chance to visit with others and live in certain areas. Parole is an expression that law enforcement officials believe this person can be successfully reintegrated back into civil society.
At the same time, those on parole are carefully monitored. They are often subject to checks they are not doing drugs or engaging in other illegal activities. A parole officer may check up on them unexpectedly. If the parole officer feels that the person has engaged in any form of parole violation, they might chose to bring them in for questioning. This can be a hearing in which officials of the court are trying to determine if there is cause to believe they have violated the terms of their parole.
A parole violation is a serious matter. Someone who has violated the terms of their parole may be sent back to prison to finish out the rest of their sentence. This can mean months or even years behind bars again. It can also mean other kinds of losses. Going back to prison for months means the person is unable to hold their present job. That can mean a loss of income and the inability to pay the rent. A person may wind up homeless once released. If they have family members, family members might be dependent on the person’s help to do things such as childcare and contribute to the family’s overall financial picture.
Fortunately, it is possible to fight such charges. There are ways to argue that the person has not violated their parole. A lawyer can also argue that any such violations are minor and do not mean the person should be sent back to prison as a result of their actions. That is why hiring effective counsel is a crucial part of any effort to fight potentially serious parole violation consequences.