When you’re on probation, the last thing you want to do is take a step backward instead of forward, which is exactly what can happen if you violate your probation. To be charged with a violation of probation (VOP), your probation officer has to file an affidavit describing how you violated your probation. An affidavit is a written statement under oath that can be used as evidence in court.
If you know or suspect your probation officer is planning to submit, or has already submitted, an affidavit, a criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you come into compliance with the outstanding terms or help you work on a good defense.
Probationary periods may range from 12 months for a misdemeanor to much longer for a felony. Depending on a judge’s decision, you may be sentenced to probation instead of jail time.
Because probationary periods extend for more than a short time, even in misdemeanor cases, there are a lot of opportunities to accidentally or mistakenly violate the terms of your probation. The expert defense lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have experience navigating any potential allegations that may come up during the course of your probation. Our legal team is at the ready to help you review any affidavit with the alleged violations.
Similar to a hearing where you must plead guilty or not guilty, you will need to admit to the violation or deny the violation as stated in the affidavit. With the help of an experienced lawyer, admitting the violation may not always incur a strict penalty. If you admit the violation, your lawyer can help you explain why the violation occurred. However, if you deny the violation, your lawyer can help you fight the allegations.
With nearly two decades of experience defending people from all kinds of charges, including violation of probation, you can feel confident that we will investigate all the details and prepare a thorough defense for your case. If you want to do further research on Utah laws that may be relevant to your case, visit our probation violation page to find more information about the following:
If you or a loved one face potential allegations or have a warrant issued for violation of probation in Utah, the criminal defense lawyers of Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat can help you identify the potential consequences and fight to defend your rights. We will do everything we can to get you the best chance at securing a favorable outcome.
Contact our expert legal team at (801) 532-5297 to get started on your defense with a free, no obligation consultation.
