If facing criminal charges, there may come the point when you realize your chances of acquittal are slim. In that case, you might want to focus on reducing the severity of the sentence a judge is likely to give you.
Persuading the court to put you on probation rather than send you straight into a custodial sentence may be one option to consider. Some violent crimes would automatically exclude the option of probation, but it can be an excellent option when available.
Probation is not total freedom
While probation gives you much more liberty than being behind bars, you must ensure you understand the conditions that come with it. If you breach your parole conditions, your chance could be up, and you will find yourself serving the custodial sentence that the judge put on hold.
Here are some typical conditions that may apply:
- Meet with your parole officer: Mark these on your calendar as important dates and always allow time for delays. Turning up late or forgetting altogether does not look good.
- Remain within state lines: If a special need to travel out of state came up, such as your mom falling ill, make sure you get permission. Risking it and hoping you will not get caught could make it much harder to visit her in the future.
- Do not break the law: Take particular care when driving as it is easy to pick up offenses
- Attend your work: Others who know you are on probation may try to rile you, yet you cannot let them as it could cost you your freedom.
If you face criminal charges and think you could handle those conditions, get legal help to find out if you may be eligible to apply for probation.