Probation gives you the chance to avoid jail time or a harsh sentence. If you were accused of failing to comply with the terms of your probation in Phoenix, AZ, it’s important to contact an experienced Phoenix probation violation lawyer as soon as possible. At Orent Law Offices, PLC, we know how to build the aggressive legal defense you deserve.
Our lawyers have over 30 years of experience handling complex criminal cases. We can help you minimize the consequences of any allegations that you violated your probation.
Probation violations can be frightening. If you’re facing a probation violation charge, call our law firm in Phoenix, Arizona at (480) 656-7301 to schedule a free consultation immediately.
The consequences of violating probation can be serious. If you’ve received notice that you violated probation, you deserve an aggressive advocate who will fight for you.
Our legal team at Orent Law Offices, PLC is led by a former prosecutor who knows how probation officers think. With our Phoenix criminal defense lawyers in your corner, you can rest assured that your PO will take you seriously.
Hiring us means you’ll have a respected lawyer to:
Our lawyers know that the prospect of probation revocation can be scary. We’re here to use our knowledge of the criminal laws in Arizona to your advantage. To learn more about how an experienced Phoenix criminal defense attorney can protect your legal rights, call for a free consultation today.
Arizona criminal laws often give judges discretion when assigning punishment after you’re convicted of a crime. Judges can impose financial penalties and sentence a defendant to jail or prison. In some cases, judges can put the defendant on probation instead of sending them to jail or prison.
Probation can be supervised or unsupervised. Most of the time, courts order supervised probation where you must check in with your probation officer at regular intervals. However, in low-risk cases involving relatively minor crimes, it’s possible that you could be sentenced to unsupervised probation.
Regardless of the type of monitoring involved, probation and parole aren’t without rules. Defendants must comply with various restrictions while on probation. If you violate the terms of probation, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest.
If it’s found that you did violate the terms of probation, the judge then has authority to revoke probation and reinstate the terms of your jail or prison sentence.
A probation violation happens anytime you violate the terms of your probation. In Maricopa County, certain terms are mandatory when a judge sentences you to probation.
The general terms of a supervised probation in Phoenix require the defendant to:
Additional standard probation terms typically require the defendant to:
As a general matter, you’re required to follow any instructions that the probation officer provides during the term of probation.
Depending on the terms and conditions of your probation, there are many different ways that you can be accused of violating probation.
Some of the most common types of probation violations include:
If you’re accused of an Arizona probation violation, it’s important to speak with an experienced defense attorney as quickly as possible. Our Phoenix probation violation attorneys at Orent Law Offices, PLC are ready to build the strong legal defense you deserve. Call for your free case review and learn more about an attorney-client relationship today.
Probation officers have discretion in determining what happens when you violate the terms of probation. The consequences will depend on:
Typically, the court must first schedule a revocation arraignment. At the arraignment, you’ll be apprised of all alleged violations and can admit or deny each violation.
If you don’t admit to a violation (or if the court doesn’t accept the admission), a violation hearing will occur between seven and 20 days after the arraignment. At the violation hearing, each side will present evidence designed to establish whether a violation has occurred.
The pleading standard at the violation hearing is much lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. Each violation must be established by a “preponderance of the evidence”. In other words, state prosecutors must only show that you “more likely than not” committed the violation.
If the state cannot meet this standard, your original probation terms will continue to apply. If they succeed, a disposition hearing will be scheduled to determine the consequences of the violation.
Under Arizona laws, there are a number of penalties that can apply if prosecutors prove that you violated the terms of your probation or parole.
Possible penalties include:
Some violations are relatively minor. It’s possible that your probation officer could elect to impose a “strike” against you rather than initiating court proceedings.
Violating the terms of probation is a serious matter. However, not all accusations are accurate. With a strong defense attorney in your corner, it may be possible to minimize the consequences of a violation.
There are two primary defenses that are effective if you’ve been accused if violating probation:
A mitigating factor is something that can be used to show that the violation was less serious than it initially appears. Mitigating factors often offer an explanation for why the violation occurred. In other words, an explanation can help minimize the consequences of a probation violation even if it did occur.
Have you been accused of violating probation? At Orent Law Offices, PLC, our lawyers have decades of experience helping clients like you. An experienced Phoenix probation violation lawyer can minimize the serious consequences of violating probation. Call for a free consultation today.
