Probation Violations

You may have, or will be, incarcerated because of some violation of your Georgia probation. If so, here are some things you should know.

 

1. You must be informed of what your violation is before going to a probation violation hearing.
2. You can have an attorney represent you at a hearing.
3. At your hearing you have three choices:
4. Agree to the violations and the sentence recommendation;
5. Contest the violations and the sentence recommendation and have a hearing;
6. Stipulate (Admit) to the violations (some or all) and ask to be heard by the judge regarding any sentence.
7. Simply not having the money for probation fees will not keep you incarcerated.
8. Not staying in touch with your probation officer could potentially end in jail time.
9.  A Motion to Cancel the probation warrant may help you avoid jail time.
10. Depending on the amount of time you have left, a violation could result in significant jail or prison time.
11. Depending on the amount of time you have already spent in jail, your probation could be terminated at the hearing, meaning you are no longer on probation.
12. New felony charges such a possession of a firearm by a probationer are severely frowned upon by judges.

13.     You should have an attorney representing you at these hearings.