What Conditions of Probation Might I Face in Minnesota?

If you are found guilty of a crime, plead guilty to a crime, or even if the charges have been continued or stayed, the Court may generally sentence you in some way.Very commonly, a requirement of that sentence is probation. The reason the Court does this is they are generally trying to control your behavior.  

Probation requirements frequently include:

• Jail time;

• Electronic home monitoring;

• Sentence to service;

• Community work service;

• No contact orders;

• Chemical dependency evaluation and treatment;

• No use provisions;

• Random urinalysis to determine usage;

• Restitution;

• Control travel outside of Minnesota or the U.S.;

• Registration as a Violent Offender or Sexual Predator under certain circumstances;

• Remaining law-abiding and/or no same of similar violations;

• Stay in contact with probation;

• Cooperate with any additional probationary demands;

• Notify probation if any contact with police or if charged.

It’s about Control and Oversight

As you can see, when probation steps in, it is about control and oversight.  To start with, the Judge first determines whether you are in a jail cell or not. If not, they may consider the lesser alternative of electronic home monitoring or house arrest if any. Probation confirms this and then they really step in.   

Probation may have an enormous influence on your life during the time of probation. You may have general probation without an assigned probation officer or for more extensive probation, a specific probation officer would be assigned to you. Regardless, you will be forced to follow a laundry list of requirements. This then gives probation to the ability to violate you if you fail any of those conditions. The result could be a jail cell, a prison cell, and maybe a more serious conviction.

The length of your probation is first determined by the Court. You may be looking at one or more years of probation. However, it should be noted that a probation officer always has the right to petition the court to ask that somebody is released early from probation.  

Have a Minnesota Probation Violation Lawyer by your side. 

Probation violations can come with some of the most difficult sentences. It is critical to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer with you from the beginning. This allows for the possibility of avoiding probation in the first place and maybe helping to set the probation terms and requirements.  Finally, in the event that you are facing a probation violation, a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist should be your first call. Jack Rice Defense has extensive experience handling probation violations and can guide you through the process.