Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

State witness, Stephfan Wilson, has been arrested for DUI. Wilson was the main witness in the shooting trial of Richard Collier, former Jacksonville Jaguar player. Wilson was on probation when he was in the car with Tyrone Hartsfield when Hartsfield allegedly shot Collier. Even though Wilson flunked multiple drug tests while the case was pending, he still remained a free man as long as he testified in the Hartsfield trial. Hartsfield was found guilty of the shooting and Wilson was out of custody.

Wilson was stopped by Georgia police for speeding. When the officer made contact with Wilson, he noticed an open container of alcohol.

If you are on probation in Jacksonville and you are arrested for new charges, your probation can be violated. The state attorney has to prove that the officer who arrested you on the new charges had probable cause to arrest. If the new criminal charges in Jacksonville are dropped, the judge could still find you in violation. If you suspect you have violated your probation in Jacksonville, you should contact a Jacksonville probation lawyer.

A police officer in Sandy, Oregon, has entered a guilty plea to official misconduct. William Bergin took people's driver's licenses when they were pulled over for driving on a suspended license. He was accused of then giving the confiscated licenses to an underage girl so she could buy alcohol.

Bergin was placed on 2 years probation for official misconduct. He has to spend one day in jail, perform 120 hours of community service, and pay a $500 fine. If Bergin violates his probation, he could be sent back to jail.

In Jacksonville, if you are placed on probation for a crime and you violate that probation, you can be sent to jail for the maximum time punishable for the original crime you were convicted of. The prosecutor has to prove that you "willfully and substantially" violated.

If you have any questions about probation violations in Jacksonville, contact our Jacksonville Probation Attorneys at (904) 634-0900 for a free consultation.

The Pew Center's Report on the States released a report yesterday outlining Florida's numbers involving community supervision. Community supervision includes:

1. Probation in Jacksonville and all of Florida
2. Pretrial Intervention in Jacksonville and all of Florida
3. House Arrest in Jacksonville and all of Florida

The Florida Department of Corrections reports that people in Florida who are being supervised has risen from 95,973 in 1997-1998 to 107,203 in 2006-2007.

If you have any questions about House Arrest in Jacksonville, Probation in Jacksonville, or Pretrial Intervention in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville House Arrest Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

While you are on criminal probation in Florida, your probation can be revoked for any conduct the judge considers unfavorable. If you are arrested for violating your probation, you do not have the right to a jury trial. You are entitled to a hearing where the prosecutor has to prove that you "willfully and substantially" violated your probation. If the Court finds you in violation, you could be given the maximum jail sentence you were facing on the original charge.

Probation is most often revoked for the following violations:

1. Failure to complete the requirements of probation in a timely manner.

2. Failure to report to your probation officer. DO NOT STOP REPORTING. Even if you cannot pay fees or costs, you should continue to report.

3. Getting arrested while on probation. An arrest that is supported by probable cause is an automatic violation of your probation.

4. Associating with people of bad character.

Probation officers have the great power to determine whether you remain on probation or whether they violate you. That is why it is very important to build a good relationship with them. Jail time hangs over your head until your probation ends and it is vital to complete all conditions of your probation on time.

If you have any questions about criminal probation, contact our Jacksonville Probation Criminal Defense Attorneys today for a free consultation.