You are facing a probation violation hearing and you might be tempted to think that you can talk your way out of the situation. You may think that you have a reasonable explanation for the violation. That is something that you cannot know for sure. Your probation lawyer will help you with advice. A legal defense is different from a reasonable explanation. Why should the court give you another chance? You will have to have a good explanation. And that can be a tough sell if you have made another mistake. Without an attorney to plead your case, the judge may be inclined to write you off as a lost cause. Do you even have a good case? You won’t know that until you speak to a probation lawyer.
A Great Probation Lawyer is Your Best Defense in Greenville, SC
Not all probation violations carry the same weight. Maybe you had to work and you missed counseling. This could be a good reason. Committing a second crime is a serious violation.
Either way, you need a probation lawyer. You need advice you on what your options are.
They will advise you on what strategy to follow. You may not feel that the violation hearing is as serious as a trial. That mistake could land you in jail.
A Probation Violation is a Serious Matter
Violating your probation can have serious outcomes. If you are lucky, it could mean counseling. It could also mean having stricter conditions attached to your probation. If you are less fortunate, you could end up in jail instead.
This is No Standard Criminal Trial
Things work in a different way to the way they do in a trial. For starters, it is not a question of absolute proof. You don’t have reasonable doubt. They did that at your trial. The prosecution just has to prove that you could have committed the violation.
The standards of evidence change in this case. What applied in your main trial is not going to carry over. The prosecutor just has to make a good argument. They must prove that there is a reasonable amount of evidence against you. The judge must believe that it is reasonable to suspect you.
They can use evidence that they could not in a criminal hearing. They will use the testimony of the officers you dealt with too. This could drastically decrease your chances of explaining things away.
It is also why having an attorney is essential. Prosecutors can be tricky. One wrong move would be expensive.
Getting the Best Outcome You Can
An experienced probation lawyer understands how the system works. They can find a good workaround. Or they could convince the judge to see things your way. In both cases, you have a better chance of a good result.
Judges do have a lot of leeway when it comes to meting out punishment. You might get one who imposes a harsher sentence.
This is not the time to play chicken with the legal system. If you do, you will lose. When the stakes are as high as they are in this kind of case, it is worth taking chances with the outcome. Without a probation lawyer, you could be facing serious jail time.
The state in general and Greenville, SC in particular, like to give people a second chance. They do, however, tend to be harsh with those that squander those chances. Without a good probation lawyer, the chances of you getting a third chance to dwindle. The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services believes in chances. Their probation program had a 77% success rate in 2017. Hiring a criminal attorney for your Greenville hearing can put you in the win column. A great probation lawyer will be able to examine the case. They will use every legal defense possible and consider your explanations. Also, they could find mitigating factors that might improve sentencing. They have a thorough knowledge of the criminal justice system and know what will work and what won’t.
Call Brumback and Langley when the police have arrested you for a parole violation.
If you have violated your parole in Greenville, SC, contact us. We will let you speak to an experienced probation lawyer. You need the best advice possible, and we can provide that. We have helped many clients through the same battle. Let us help you with the best possible legal defense so that you get the best possible outcome.
