What is probation?
As part of the criminal justice system in the Commonwealth of Virginia, many people convicted of a crime are placed on probation as an alternative to being incarcerated in jail. Other times, people released from jail are on probation, which means that they remain under court supervision, often for a specified amount of time.
And if someone violates their terms of probation, those terms and conditions clearly spell out the consequences for doing so. In particular, one of the most common consequences of violating probation in Virginia is changing a suspended sentence (which means the person was not sent to jail) to an active jail term (which means the person must serve their sentence in jail).
What are common probation violations?
Probations violations in Virginia can cover a wide range, including:
- Not reporting to a probation officer.
- Failing to make restitution payments.
- Committing an additional crime.
- Leaving the state without permission.
- Failure to pass a drug test.
- Not completing community service requirements.
Penalties for probation violations?
If you violate the terms of your probation in Virginia, a judge might impose certain penalties, including:
- Sentencing you to prison, which could result in you serving a long prison sentence due to your probation violation, especially if it was a serious violation.
- Extending your probation, which means you will need to remain under court supervision for an even longer period of time.
- Paying additional money in restitution, especially if you did not pay this money as directed by the court.
Get a law firm that gets results. Contact us
Probation violations in Virginia can be very serious legal matters. Don’t wait to see what happens. Take back control. Contact our Norfolk law firm to learn more about your legal options. One of our experienced Norfolk, VA criminal defense lawyers can answer your questions, review your case, and get right to work developing a strategy that suits your specific probation violation.
Schedule a free case evaluation with Welch & Wright, PLLC – we put your best interests first.
