How to Violate Probation and Be Sent Back to Jail

Here’s some things to keep in mind to avoid violating your probation – it could keep you out of jail

Probation can be both a blessing and a curse, as the saying goes. It’s a blessing in that you’re not in jail and can live a relatively normal daily life. It’s a curse, however, because it is so easy to violate probation by doing things that, at times, can seem mundane and not worthy of jail. Probation is a test period; if you can get through these few years of restrictions, you gain more freedom.

Some violations are ones you know you can’t do, such as commit another crime or get into trouble in any way with the police. You can not use controlled substances or use alcohol if you are on probation. In fact, you may have to submit to regular drug testing as part of your probation conditions, and you don’t want to have anything in your system.

You can also violate probation by not showing up for court hearings, not checking in with your probation officer, and not paying fees or fulfilling other parts of the agreement surrounding your release on probation. When the court decides you can be out of jail on probation, you’ll have a set of conditions you have to meet, and not meeting any of them can be grounds for a violation that lands you back in jail.

One way to violate probation that often trips people up is that sometimes the terms of the probation period include not associating with — in other words, not being with — certain people or being in certain locations. This can include not traveling outside the county or state, which may seem like an easy requirement to fulfill, but you can easily forget that you’re not supposed to be in the next county. Or that person you have to avoid may try to contact you against your will, resulting in an involuntary violation if the two of you are seen together.

If you’re worried that you’ve violated probation and may be sent to jail, contact Eisenberg Law Offices at 608-256-8356. You need legal help, especially if the violation was unintentional or due to extenuating circumstances.