What is a violation of probation?
A person is put on probation when the court deems it appropriate, such as when a person is convicted of a sex offense, a drug charge or any other crime that requires performance of certain conditions. For example, a person receives a suspended sentence of 7 years for a drug crime, but the sentence is suspended and the person is given 5 years of probation. The condition set by the court is for the person not to use drugs of any kind and will be enforced by random drug screenings. The person subsequently has a “dirty urine” (indicating recent drug use). This person can be brought back to the court for a violation of probation and may receive up to 7 years (the suspended time) in jail. Remember, probation is a privilege, not a right.
