If you have been charged with a crime and received probation as part of your agreement, it is incredibly important that you fulfill your probation obligations completely. The first requirement of your probation is appearing for each of the scheduled appointments or running the risk of your probation officer reporting a violation to the conditions of your probation to the courts, resulting in jail time.
At Lotze Mosley, our criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland know that felony probation violation consequences are harsh and are given without hesitation by the court when the probationer violates their agreement in any way. We also understand that life is complicated, and missing an appointment can occur by no fault your own, and we want to help you maintain that position with the courts, so you can get back on track.
Is There Any Reason A Probation Officer Will Allow You To Miss An Appointment?
There are very few reasons a probation officer will allow you to miss a scheduled appointment.
These circumstances may include hospitalization, family emergencies, or serious car accidents.
If you know ahead of time that you will be out of town for mandatory work duty, relay that information to your probation officer well before the day of the appointment, and be sure to provide documentation of your work-related requirements.
If you have paid all the applicable fines and fees and completed the conditions associated with your probation, your probation officer may be more likely to extend the courtesy of changing your appointment date, only when necessary.
Keep in mind, probation officers have very stringent schedules, and any disruption can jeopardize your agreement with the courts. If your probation officer approves your request to change your scheduled date or miss an appointment, be sure to get it in writing.
What Should I Do If I Miss A Scheduled Probation Appointment?
If you’ve missed your appointment with your probation officer, contact them immediately, and be prepared to provide some form of written documentation as to why you missed your meeting.
If you do not have an acceptable reason for missing your probation appointment, contact one of our experienced probation violation lawyers at Lotze Mosley today at +1 202-393-0535 — even if we did not handle your initial criminal case — to get the representation you need to avoid being violated back into the judicial system.