If you have been convicted of criminal charges or agreed to a plea deal, you may find that probation is part of your sentencing agreement. Although probation terms will be unique to the individual and the offense they committed, there are really only two main types of probation in Minnesota. There’s probation to the court and probation to community corrections. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at both forms of probation in Minnesota.
Probation To The Court
Let’s start by examining probation to the court. This form of probation has fewer involved parties, and is generally applied to individuals that need less oversight in order to complete the terms of their probation. In some instances, the only instructions a person will receive when they are in probation of the court is to stay out of additional trouble. For example, the judge may note that the offense will fall off your record or a stayed sentence will not be imposed so long as you avoid any new criminal convictions for the next two years. You won’t need to report to anyone during this time, and the court will not take any further action so long as you stay out of trouble.
In some instances, individuals in probation to the court will have some additional requirements that will need to be met on top of staying out of trouble. The most common probation requirements include completing an alcohol or substance abuse class or partaking in a certain amount of community service within a set period of time. You need to meet those requirements and have any completion forms submitted to the appropriate location in order to comply with all aspects of your probation to the court.
Probation To Community Corrections
This type of probation involves additional oversight by a third party like a probation or a corrections officer. You will likely have some more requirements with this type of probation than you would with probation to the court. For example, you may need to check in with your probation officer every two weeks or submit to regular drug or alcohol tests to ensure you are complying with all aspects of your probation. On top of these requirements, you’ll also likely need to stay out of trouble.
Additional requirements that may be imposed with this type of probation include:
- Having no contact with certain parties
- Not leaving the state
- Maintaining residency/employment
- Paying restitution
- Course completion (alcohol, drugs, traffic, anger management, etc.)
Whatever type of probation you are sentenced to, it’s important that you hold yourself responsible for meeting all of the requirements of your program. Probation is typically the last hurdle you need to climb to get back to a normal life, so commit to your program and see it all the way through. If you need help with any aspect of your probation, or you’re hoping to avoid probation and a conviction by beating the charges levied against you, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
