Albuquerque Probation Violation Lawyers
Dedicated Albuquerque Probation Violation Attorneys Ready To Assist You
Probation is often offered as a compromise to first-time offenders and others who a court feels would best be served by it rather than serving time. Probation allows you to skip out on any potential jail or prison time in exchange for weekly or monthly reporting and evident signs of rehabilitation. It seems quite lenient when offered to offenders, although many unfortunately do not abide by its rules and restrictions, seemingly not phased by any penalties. However, this is a tragic mistake as any violation of your probation can result in heightened, severe penalties. If you have been charged with this type of violation, consult with our experienced Albuquerque probation violation lawyers who can devise a strategy to ensure you do not receive heightened penalties.
Probation Violation in New Mexico
Probation is given as an alternative form of sentencing to defendants who appear as though they can amend their ways, or complete rehabilitation. When a judge agrees to it as a means of punishment, the judge also assigns a probation officer to you, who is in charge of ensuring you abide by the terms of it. You will have to regularly meet with this person to ensure you are meeting the terms of your probation. If you miss these meetings you can be liable for a violation, which is often the leading cause of probation violations.
This violation can occur not only if you violate the terms of your probation, but additionally, if any of the following occur:
- You are arrested for a new offense
- You fail a drug test
- You are convicted of a new offense
- You fail to pay court fees
- You fail to participate in court-ordered rehabilitation programs such as community service or substance abuse centers
- You leave the city without court permission
- You violate any curfews currently in place
Probation is essentially a “get out of jail free” card that the judge gives you in exchange for serving time in jail or prison. You work hard to ensure that you do not suffer the consequences by abiding by the rules, but sometimes things happen which are out of your control. A skilled criminal defense legal team in Albuquerque will be able to analyze your case to determine whether you have a compelling argument for your probation violation.
Consequences of Probation Violation
If you violate the terms of your probation, you often face jail time, drug tests, additional probation, or an additional charge in your sentencing. You do not want to face these types of charges over something small that you did not comply with, so it is worthwhile to consult an experienced probation violation law firm if you find yourself in a situation that involves this type of violation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can my constitutional rights be restricted at a probation hearing?
Yes, you do lose many of the constitutional rights you would enjoy if you were not on probation. You don’t necessarily have the right to face witnesses against you, such as your probation officer, for example.
Can I escape the revocation of my probation by leaving the state until the period is over?
No, you can’t. If you are apprehended, your probation can still be revoked even though the period has already expired, and you can be incarcerated as a result.
Are the terms of probation different for a DWI conviction?
Yes. Normally, if you successfully completed, say, six months of a one-year probation before it was revoked, you would receive credit for six months “time served.” If you are on probation for DWI, however, you will receive no such credit and you might have to serve the entire year of incarceration.
I am from out of state. Can I complete my probation in my home state?
That can probably be arranged, but it will take a court order to do it. In any case, you will need to go through the ordinary New Mexico criminal process in New Mexico, and work things out with the New Mexico Corrections Department.
Are juvenile probation violations handled differently than adult violations?
A juvenile is more likely than an adult to be sentenced to probation, rather than incarceration in the first place. Once a violation occurs, courts tend to treat juvenile probation violations more leniently. They are more reluctant to incarcerate a juvenile, and periods of incarceration tend to be shorter. Repeated violations, however, could result in harsher treatment.
What are the consequences of failing to meet the deadline for appealing a probation violation?
In most cases, you will be out of luck and you will have to live with the results of the original hearing, even if it means incarceration. If your failure to meet the deadline was your legal practitioner’s fault, however, you might be able to assert an “ineffective assistance of counsel” defense. I can help you if you are in that situation.
What is Pre-Prosecution Probation?
The Pre-Prosecution Probation Program is designed to benefit felony offenders:
- with no prior criminal record
- whose offenses are non-violent and did not involve drug trafficking; and
- who admit guilt.
If you are accepted into the program, you will be placed on probation for one or two years, and if you successfully complete it, charges will be dropped and you will have no criminal conviction on your record.
How are my Fourth Amendment rights affected by probation?
The Fourth Amendment protects you against unreasonable search and seizure. Your Fourth Amendment rights will be greatly curtailed, but they will not be completely eliminated. Your probation officer or the police, for example, can search your home without a warrant – all they need is “reasonable suspicion” rather than “probable cause.”
If I am convicted of a probation violation, are there any alternatives to incarceration for the rest of my sentence?
Yes. Some of them are:
- adding time to your probation period;
- adding additional fines;
- requiring you to attend a treatment program. or
- ordering you incarcerated for a length of time shorter than your original sentence.
Other options are available as well.
Skilled Legal Consultation from An Albuquerque Probation Violation Attorney
If you have violated the terms of your probation, it is important to contact an experienced Albuquerque probation violation lawyer as soon as possible. Violations often have severe repercussions and the faster we can begin dealing with them, the better the outcome will be.
Our Albuquerque probation violation attorneys at New Mexico Criminal Law Offices has 22 years of collective experience handling criminal defense cases, including probation violations, and knows how to effectively negotiate with the judge and prosecutor after your violation occurs. Contact us today.
Ken and Jack proved to be diligent, ethical and hard working. They achieved our goals and were dedicated to my case. I would highly recommend Ken and Jack.
Highly recommend. Ken Gleria lived up to his excellent reputation. He proved to be completely honest with me and had my best interest at heart. Case dismissed in 4 months. He initially told me it would be about 6 months. Colleagues and staff outstanding as well. Will trust him again if the occasion should ever arise (hopefully not).
I unhesitatingly recommend this firm.Their knowledge of the law resulted in the dismissal of my case.In every instance they were there for me in communicating the status of my case, my calls were promptly returned, and Jackie, the paralegal, was very helpful. You will be in good hands.
Jack & his legal team are outstanding! Being a single mother, fighting for her fathers freedom, the front desk personally helped by watching my son as Jack & I sorted out legal matters. Jack went above & beyond to ensure paperwork was submitted in a timely manner, even if it meant traveling numerous miles to various court houses. Jack is highly educated and impressive in the courtroom. Jack remained patient as our family struggled to understand New Mexico’s broken law system. This year Jack has given us the greatest gift of them all, my father is home celebrating the holidays with his family. I would highly recommend Jack & his team for all of your criminal law needs.
Our experienced legal team also handles other types of cases, including:
