Appeals of Violation of Probation/Parole

When a person is granted parole or probation, he agrees to follow a set of strict rules in exchange for not serving jail or prison time (specifically, while parole is granted for those who have already served a portion of their prison sentence, probation is granted in lieu of serving any jail time). Although the exact rules associated with a person’s parole or probation will depend on the nature of his crime, in general, some of the rules a person on parole or probation must follow include (but are not limited to):

• Not committing additional crimes
• Not associated with people who are engaging in criminal behaviors
• Regularly meeting with a parole or probation officer who will monitor the person’s progress
• Agreeing to submit to random drug tests
• Attending mandatory education or counseling courses
• Diligently looking for or holding down a steady job
• Not leaving the state without consent of the probation or parole officer.

Should a person miss his meeting with his probation/parole officer, fail a drug test, or otherwise be suspected of violating the terms of his probation/parole, the consequences can be extremely serious; namely, a prosecutor can issue a motion to revoke the probation/parole (MRP), and the accused individual will only have one chance during a probation violation hearing to defend himself.

Probation/Parole Violations Hearings & Appeals

Probation/parole violation hearings are a lot different than trial proceedings because the prosecutor only has to prove that is was more likely than not that a violation occurred – as opposed to trial proceedings in which the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime was committed.

As a result, it will be extremely important that those accused of violating the terms of their probation/parole have the trusted criminal defense lawyers of the Adams Law Firm defending their rights. While we are experienced at going up against prosecutors in these hearings, we are also skilled litigators who know how to aggressively assert our Clients’ rights to help them achieve the best possible outcomes to these cases. Without our help, the accused stands to have his parole/probation revoked, which means that he will likely go back to jail or prison to serve out his full sentence. What can make matters worse is that those convicted of probation/parole violations can face additional criminal charges and that they will be ineligible for future probation/parole, as they have shown that they are not able to comply with the terms of them.

In the event that a person is convicted of violating his probation or parole, our lawyers can file appeals at the highest courts in Colorado in order to prove that our Clients were not guilty of the alleged violations. For more information about your legal rights, as well as a professional assessment of your case, call our Colorado Criminal Law Defense Attorneys at the Adams Law Firm at (720) 333-9490.