By Brooke Price

According to article 42.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, community supervision allows an individual who has been charged with a criminal offense to follow guidelines and conditions rather than spending time in jail or prison.

Many defendants charged with misdemeanors and lower-level felonies can be eligible for probation, which can help you stay at work and with your family. However, violating the terms of your probation carries serious consequences.

If your probation officer suspects you’ve violated your agreement, they can request an arrest warrant, add more terms to your probation, or revoke it altogether. Violations are either substantive or technical. Substantive means that you commit a new crime while you are on probation. Technical violations happen when you fail to follow a condition, like not attending community service hours or therapy sessions.

While each person’s probation is different, there are basic conditions to all community supervision:

• Refrain from committing any other criminal offenses;
• Avoid using controlled substances and alcohol;
• Avoid any other negative habits or persons that may be a bad influence;
• Timely report to their probation officer every month;
• Allow their probation officer to visit their home or place of employment;
• Follow the rules and regulations of the Community Supervision and Corrections Department;
• Find a suitable job and notify the Community Supervision and Corrections Department of any changes;
• Support any dependents;
• Submit to random drug and alcohol testing; and
• Pay any fines, fees or restitution.

If you are suspected to have violated the terms of your probation in Williamson or Bell County, you will need an experienced team to help get you the best outcomes possible. Call Price & Twine, PLLC today at (512) 354-1880 so we can review your case.