Probation Violation & House Arrest
St. Petersburg Probation Violation Lawyers
New laws carry strict penalties for violations of probation or house arrest. Judges do not take these offenses lightly. Sentences can be very harsh, and it is extremely important to have the best legal representation possible. Recently, the penalties have grown even more severe for certain individuals. Florida's new "Anti-Murder Act" (AMA), signed into law by Governor Crist in March 2007, imposes strict sanctions for felony probation violators with a history of repeated or violent crimes, including:
- Murder
- Kidnapping
- Aggravated or sexual battery
- Robbery
- Arson
- Stalking
- Aircraft piracy
- Computer pornography
No bond without hearing for most felony probation violations. If you violate your felony probation within the terms of the Anti-Murder Act, you are not entitled to bail until there is a hearing to determine if you post a danger to the community. If the judge finds that you violated your felony probation, probation is revoked and the judge must sentence you up to the statutory maximum.
Know the Probation Rules
You don't have to commit a crime to violate probation. Your probation officer may send a violation of probation or community control/house arrest warrant to the judge if you are either charged with another crime or with a technical violation. Technical violations include breaking curfew, not reporting to the officer, and failing a drug test.
If you were not informed of your responsibilities during probation, this could help your defense. Trying to defend yourself from a probation violation charge is very difficult—the prosecution does not need much evidence to confirm a violation. Your criminal defense attorney will need to be experienced in probation hearings and know how to prove that you did not intentionally violate the judge’s terms.
You need to act fast when accused of violating probation. Call (727) 202-4858 to contact our skilled criminal defense lawyer in St. Petersburg today. We are available to clients 24/7.