Orlando VOP Defense Attorney | Law Office of Jack Kaleita in Longwood

Types of Court Ordered Supervision in Florida

There are basically two types of court ordered supervision for adults in Florida. One is called “probation” and the other is commonly called “house arrest” or “community control” They are both court ordered alternatives to incarceration in the county jail or prison. Depending on the circumstances, supervision can be by an officer of a county run (or county funded) entity or by the Florida Department of Corrections if the charge began as a felony. If someone successfully completes the term of their supervision with no violations – which means that, while under supervision, they did not get caught doing anything that they were not allowed to do AND they also completed everything that they were supposed to do – then their case is complete and they normally never have to return to court. If, however, they fail to do either, a “violation” can occur and they will end up back in front of the judge and, potentially, be resentenced. Many times, they are then eligible to be sentenced to anything they could have originally gotten and sometimes more.

Probation

If a person is sentenced for a crime, and their prior criminal record or the crime for which they are being sentenced is not too serious, they might be placed on probation for a specified period of time, in lieu of doing jail time. Probation normally includes supervision by a "probation officer" who works for the Department of Corrections if the offense for which the person is sentenced is a felony, or another county based agency if the offense is a misdemeanor. These "conditions of probation" may include requirements that the offender or "probationer" shall:

Report to the probation officers or supervisors as directed
Permit such supervisors to visit him or her at their home or elsewhere - like their workplace
Work faithfully at suitable employment insofar as may be possible
Remain within a specified place or county.
Live without violating any law.
Make reparation or restitution to the aggrieved party for the damage or loss caused by his or her offense in an amount to be determined by the court
Not associate with non-law abiding individuals
Submit to random testing for the use of illegal drugs
Complete various programs, classes, and/or counseling related to their crime
Adhere to a curfew imposed by the court or one's probation officer

If you are asked questions by your probation officer and give them information that demonstrates your non-compliance with all the conditions of your probation OR if the probation officer discovers or finds out information that they believe shows that you violated your probation, then you likely may end up with a violation of probation pending. They can arrest you without a warrant or send through a violation affidavit, seek a VOP warrant from the judge and you will have to go back to court for a hearing before the judge – most times the same judge who sentenced you. This is often worse than being sentenced originally, so you should have an experienced attorney defending you.

What is Violation of Probation?

When someone is originally sentenced to probation and it is alleged by their supervising officer that they have failed to follow the rules or adhere to the conditions placed upon them, or if is alleged that they have failed to complete a specific condition of their probation, then that person can have probation "violated."

If the probationer is deemed to be in "violation of probation" by their supervising officer, often referred to as a having a "VOP", the probation officer will normally submit an affidavit of violation of probation to the judge who initially imposed the sentence. The Judge will then issue an arrest warrant or sometimes schedule the alleged violator for a court date, however, judges frequently issue a warrant and set a “no bond” status whereby the accused violator must remain in custody for an extended period of time - maybe even until the violation is heard by the court at a "VOP evidentiary Hearing" and/or otherwise resolved.

Violation of Probation Consequences

If you're found in violation of your probation, the judge can:

Restore you to probation
Modify the terms of your probation
Change the type of supervision that you are under
Revoke probation entirely and sentence you to jail or prison

Revocation of probation normally means that you will be adjudicated guilty of the original offense you were given probation for, if this was not done originally, and given the sentence the judge could have imposed originally or sometimes one more harsh.

If you have been accused of violating the terms of your probation or community control, you have the right to challenge the allegations, but time is of the essence since you could be arrested on a warrant very quickly, and without warning, after the violation is alleged to have occurred. It is essential that you retain experienced legal counsel to assist in your Violation of Probation (VOP), ideally before you are arrested on the Violation, if possible. An early jump on it may decrease your chances of staying in custody. Call Attorney Jack A. Kaleita today to make an appointment to discuss your violation of probation case

How Can a VOP Attorney Help?

If you get a defense attorney for a violation of probation as soon as possible, often times they can speak with your probation officer or the prosecutor, either before or after you are arrested or both. If it is too late and you have already been arrested, then an attorney can normally get you a bond hearing where the judge would consider setting a bond. Unlike most new charges, in a violation scenario, the person is not legally entitled to a bond as they would likely have been originally, but an experienced defense attorney can often make the difference. Having representation during this violation of probation process is critical since an experienced attorney can make the difference and may be able to persuade the judge not issue a warrant or to allow you a bond so that you do not have to remain in jail with no bond pending your hearing.

Early Termination of Probation

If you have met all the terms of your probation, including payment of fines and completion of any special conditions (like community service, etc.), you may be eligible to terminate your probation early. Terminating probation early will eliminate all supervision and its conditions, like restrictions on travel and supervision costs. Almost anyone is eligible to request early termination of their probation.

Contact our Central Florida VOP Defense Lawyer

If you are placed on probation and you have violated your probation, or you believe you are eligible for an early termination of your probation, call criminal defense Attorney Jack Kaleita today for a free consultation! We are available at (866) 422-7934 or (407) 831-7800. You may also send us an email at info@jackklaw.com. Our law firm is committed to protecting your rights. We are conveniently located just off Interstate 4, in Longwood, minutes away from downtown Orlando, Longwood and easily accessible from every direction. We value your privacy and will keep all information confidential.