Violations of Probation/Parole:

It is likely that any Defendant who pleads guilty to a criminal offense in Pennsylvania will thereafter be under the supervision of either a Probation or Parole Officer. Typically, certain conditions will be attached to a Defendant’s Probation or Parole. These conditions can include a drug and alcohol evaluation, following through with substance abuse treatment, paying restitution and/or fines, completing community service, and/or staying away from a specific person or place.

Failure to satisfy the conditions of a Defendant’s Probation or Parole, or incurring new criminal charges while under supervision, can be grounds for a “Violation.” If a Probation or Parole Officer logs a violation against a Defendant, the Defendant will be brought into Court to address the violation issues. In certain instances, violation proceedings can result in significant punishments that are just as bad, or worse, than the punishment received for a new criminal offense.

Properly handling a Violation case involves careful review of the Defendant’s criminal history and prior sentences. It also requires that a Defendant have a dedicated attorney who carefully reviews the grounds for the Violation and advocates aggressively on their client’s behalf. When sentencing a Defendant for a Violation, a Judge will hear the recommendations and guidelines that are reported by the Probation Officer. The Judge will also consider the recommendations and opinions of the District Attorney’s Office. When facing the Probation or Parole Officer and the District Attorney’s office in a sentencing for Violation of supervision, it is imperative that you have dedicated legal counsel who will aggressively fight for a minimum sentence.

If you have a pending violation matter, then I recommend that you call my office to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your matter. I would be happy to hear more about your case, and discuss the facts and circumstances of your matter with you.