It’s not uncommon for defendants in criminal cases in Fort Worth, Texas and other parts of Tarrant County to be offered probation as part of a plea deal instead of spending time in jail. This can happen when the judge or prosecutor believes that supervision or counselling is a better option than jail.
When probation is ordered the defendant receives both a term of probation and a suspended sentence. The terms of the probation are rules that the defendant agrees to follow. Those rules can include everything from not having any controlled substances, neither owning or possessing a firearm, committing no further offenses for a set period of time, and/or paying court costs and restitution.
The parole period is looked at as a kind of test as to whether or not the parolee is ready to return to the community as a law abiding citizen. Failing to abide by the terms and conditions of the parole can have serious consequences.
If a convicted felon in Tarrant County violates the terms of their probation, they can have their probation revoked, be sent to jail, and face additional penalties.
Below are some of the penalties you could face if you are caught with a probation violation in Tarrant County or are seeking bail as a repeat offender.
Possible Penalties for Probation Violations in Fort Worth
Receive a Warning
Probation officers are given a lot of leeway when it comes to how they handle probation violations. If the infraction is not that severe and you have good rapport with your probation officer, it’s quite possible that they let you off with a warning.
In many cases, those who have not previously violated their probation are given a warning. But that is not a steadfast rule. And if you are given a warning, chances are real good you won’t get another.
Even then, there is no guarantee that a judge will go along with what your probation officer has decided is best. The judge could simply do what the probation officer suggests. The judge could also be compelled by law to sentence the defendant to jail time if they violate the terms of their probation. Or, an aggressive prosecutor could recommend a stiffer sentence.
Required to Appear
More often than not, if you break the conditions of your probation in Fort Worth you will be asked to appear in court. If this happens, you could face any number of penalties. Some of the most common are:
- Have additional probation terms added to your conditions. Since you broke the initial conditions, you could be sent to a rehabilitation boot company or forced to attend other correctional programs.
- Be sent back to jail for a short period of time.
- Serve the remaining time on the original sentence.
Extended Term
If you’ve been charged with a felony, a judge could extend the term of a parole violation for any period of time up to 10 years. If it’s a misdemeanor, the probationary period could be extended by up to three years.
As always, there are exceptions. For many people on probation in Fort Worth, the most difficult terms of probation to follow are having to come up with money to pay probation fees, fines, and restitution. It might just be money, but the courts view failing to pay restitution as severe as breaking any other parole conditions.
If a defendant has not paid all fines, costs, or restitution, the probationary period could be extended by two years.
Say Goodbye to Recreational Travel
Don’t expect your probation officer to grant you recreational travel permits if you’re delinquent with any probation fees. If you are, you’ll be enjoying a staycation in Tarrant County.
Maximum Sentence
Judges become a lot less forgiving each time a parole violation occurs. Remember, there are conservative and liberal judges. And there are certain crimes they all believe they need to take a hardline stance on.
If this is the second or third time you’ve violated the conditions of your parole, there’s an excellent chance you will face either jail time or the maximum sentence originally deferred in favor of parole.
Bail for Repeat Offenders in Fort Worth, Tarrant County
Texas, along with 25 other states, follow the three strikes law. If you’ve committed a violent crime and commit two other crimes, no matter how minor, you can end up in jail for up to 25 years.
That means anyone previously found guilty of a felony will face a harsher sentence for any additional crimes than someone without a criminal record. The fact is, repeat offenders are treated more harshly than first-time offenders.
PCS Bail Bonds, for Probation Violation and Repeat Offenders
It can be difficult to post bail if you’re facing probation violations or if you’re a repeat offender in Fort Worth. It’s not impossible, although, you may just need to pay a higher bond amount. That’s why it’s imperative that you have PCS Bail Bonds on standby.
The skilled bail bondsmen at PCS Bail Bonds are experienced with helping those who are repeat offenders or have violated the conditions of their parole to post a bail bond. We process our clients quickly, efficiently, and get then out of jail fast, so they can start to defend themselves.
PCS Bail Bonds has professional memberships in several renowned associations including the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Professional Bondsmen of Tarrant County.
We serve clients in Fort Worth, Texas, and other municipalities in Tarrant County. Our bond agents are always on call and we can be down to the jail in under 30 minutes.
Contact us now by phone at 817-335-1655, at our e-mail, visit in-person, or fill out our bail bond request form. You can be confident that you’re working with experts who are dedicated to helping you.