If you’ve been convicted of a crime, accepted a plea deal or been granted a stay of adjudication, there’s a chance that probation is in your future. Probation sentences are unique to the individual and take into consideration the crime that was alleged. For example, someone charged with a DUI may be ordered to abstain from alcohol for six months, or someone with a domestic abuse charge may be ordered to stay away from certain parties.
Probation is often viewed as a lenient way for the courts to keep a person in line without condemning them to jail, so many law enforcement figures like probation officers and judges don’t look kindly on individuals who break the conditions of their parole. Because of this, fighting a probation violation can be an uphill battle. Below, we explain how you can best contest an alleged probation violation.
Contesting A Probation Violation in Minnesota
Some people think that a probation violation is a black or white issue – either you upheld the conditions of your probation, or you failed to do so. The problem is that it’s rarely as cut and dry as that. Sometimes a person misses a mandatory meeting with their probation officer because of an emergency, or a third party doesn’t verify that you completed your community service like they said they would do. This may not excuse your actions, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are in clear violation of the probation order.
If you are being charged with a probation violation, the best thing you can do for yourself is to hire an experienced defense lawyer like the ones you’ll find at Appelman Law Firm. If there was a mistake or you believe you’ve unjustly been charged with a probation violation, we’ll do everything in our power to state that case. We know how to tailor an argument and work with the prosecution and judges to ensure a simple mistake or clerical error won’t result in the revocation of your probation agreement.
Even in the event that you clearly or knowingly violated your probation, it is worth talking to a lawyer. Again, we’ll be able to work with all parties involved, and we may be able to get you another chance, or reduce the sentence that would be handed down if you were found guilty. We can’t offer any guarantees, but many times a judge will be more lenient to a probation offender who at least makes the appearance of taking their violation seriously and who takes tangible steps to help address the problem. Hiring a lawyer checks both these boxes.
So if you or a loved one have been charged with violating a probation order, do yourself a favor and reach out to Avery Appelman and his team of lawyers. We offer a free case review where you can sit down with our team and go over all your legal options, free of charge. To set up that consultation, click here or give us a call at (952) 224-2277.
