It doesn’t matter if you are convicted of criminal acts or if you plead guilty in a court of law in Florida: A judge has the ability to suspend the sentence and place you on probation for a certain length of time under specific conditions that you must meet to avoid incarceration. While probation is preferable to being stuck behind bars, there are many pitfalls you need to watch out for. Read further to learn more about common ways that people violate probation.
You miss an appointment
If the judge allows you to go on probation, you are required to meet your probation officer on a regular basis per the parole officer’s schedule. If you miss an appointment, this counts as a probation violation. Your parole officer will then need to file a report with the court.
You miss a court hearing
As you are on probation, you will be required to show up for court hearings. Missing a court hearing is a serious probation violation.
You travel on a whim
It’s obvious that when you are on probation, you cannot leave the country on a whim. What you may not know, however, is that you cannot leave your state lines whenever you feel like either.
You forget to pay a fine
If the judge orders you to pay a fine, you need to pay the fine on time. Failing to pay a fine is more serious than missing credit card payments. In fact, if you don’t pay for the fine, you could acquire more costly fines or face other consequences in a criminal law court.
Being around certain people or places
Read the terms of your probation. You may need to stay away from people or places that are associated with criminal activities. These people could impact your rehabilitation schedule.
You lose your job
Your probation status can change based on your current employment status. This also includes being enrolled in school.
You commit another crime
Lastly, committing another crime is the quickest way to violate probation. Even if you are not ultimately convicted, there may be legal consequences.
If you violate your probation, you will have to attend a court hearing. Thus, you should do everything in your power to avoid violating probation. An attorney may help you if you are accused of violating probation but want to prove that you were following the judge’s orders.
