Probation Violation Defense Lawyers In Los Angeles
Following or in lieu of incarceration, the court may order a period of supervision in which you are required to obey certain court-mandated terms. Violations of these terms can result in a bench warrant arrest, reinstatement of a suspended California State Prison/County Jail sentence, and/or new additional penalties.
Since 1987, the Los Angeles criminal and DUI defense lawyers at Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP have specialized in representing clients who have had their supervised or unsupervised probation revoked or violated. Both managing Partners, attorneys Eugene Hanrahan and Stephen Sitkoff, have collectively practiced law for over 70 plus years as former senior deputy district attorneys and now criminal defense experts. Their unmatched experience in criminal procedure and law ensures your best chance of prevailing in your probation violation hearing, while their reputation and relationships with each criminal court in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties equally ensure your best opportunity at receiving reinstatement of your probation without the consequences of confinement in County Jail or State Prison.
How Your Probation Can Be Violated In Los Angeles?
If you are granted felony formal (supervised) or misdemeanor informal (unsupervised) probation in Los Angeles as part of your criminal sentence, you are given strict terms to abide by. The following are a few of the terms:
- Pay fines and penalty assessments by their due date
- Enroll in and complete community service/labor and submit proof of completion by the court-ordered due dates
- Enroll in and complete court-ordered counseling and/or rehabilitation programs by the court-ordered due dates
- Report to your probation officer as directed (formal probation)
- Obey all laws — Non-misdemeanor traffic violations or traffic infractions do not qualify as violatable offenses
- Do not associate with others currently on probation
If you fail to comply with any of the above-mentioned orders, your probation would be violated or revoked, likely resulting in the sentencing judge issuing a bench warrant for your arrest.
What Happens When Your Probation Is Violated Or Revoked?
When your probation is violated, you can receive notice either by mailed written notice from the court or in-person verbal notice by your probation officer if you are on formal probation or by a police officer during your arrest on the bench warrant. Whether you are arrested or not, you will be required to appear in court to answer to the probation violation. The egregiousness of your violation, as well your prior history of probation violations will weigh heavily on the additional penalties the judge resentences you to. Minor probation violations such as missing payments to your fines or failing to submit proof of completion of a court-ordered program you have actually completed will generally result in reinstatement of probation with either a small fine or better yet, no new terms. Whereas probation violations involving a persistent neglect to comply and/or the commission of a new crime can result in resentencing to County Jail or worse, California State Prison.
Our Probation Violation Defense Approach
The key to a successful resolution to any criminal matter, whether it be in courts in Los Angeles, Orange, or Ventura counties is proactive and strategic preparation. Appearing in court on a probation violation without a plan, with or without a privately retained probation violation lawyer, is like going into a gun fight with a knife. Because a violation of probation can viewed by the court as an act of defiance or irresponsibility on our clients’ parts, our first order of business before appearing in court is to work with our clients to get their affairs in order, so that we can more convincingly argue to the judge that our client is firmly committed to successfully completing probation this time around. For example, if the violation is due to a failure to enroll in court-ordered DUI classes, we attempt to re-enroll our client back into his/her DUI program or at the minimum, obtain proof that our client has attempted to re-enroll. Judges are routinely more amenable to leniency when the defendant can show a good faith effort towards getting their probation terms back into compliance.
Why Hire Our Los Angeles Probation Violation Defense Lawyers?
We are results oriented and are committed to providing our clients with the best legal representation possible. For almost 3 decades, Mr. Hanrahan and Mr. Sitkoff have specialized in criminal defense law, with specific expertise in the area of probation violations and probation modifications. Call our Los Angeles office today at (888) 579-4844 for a free no-obligation review of your case and options. For our clients’ convenience, we maintain satellite office locations in the following Los Angeles County cities:
Torrance, Long Beach, Pasadena, Burbank, West Covina, Woodland Hills, Encino, Westlake Village, Oxnard, Cerritos, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange, and Rancho Cucamonga.