General Info on Texas Probation

In the legal sense, probation refers to the action of suspending a criminal offender’s sentence, and allowing them to be in the community, but under the close supervision of a probation officer. While the convicted offender (probationer) is on probation, he or she is expected to be on their “best behavior.”

If a probationer violates any one or more of the conditions of their probation, the probation can be revoked. However, probation violations are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Under the Texas Constitution, the legislature determines the conditions for defendants placed on community supervision. In effect, the legislature established a list of community supervision conditions that judges impose upon probationers in Texas.

As a standard rule, probationers are required to adhere to these basic conditions as created by the legislature:

  • Not break any state or federal laws,
  • Do not partake in any injurious or vicious actions (even using drugs one time can lead to a probation revocation),
  • Stay away from people with a bad reputation (known criminals),
  • Stay away from bad places, such as areas known for drug dealing, prostitution, and other criminal activity,
  • Permit your probation officer to visit your home or any other place,
  • Work faithfully in a respectful job,
  • Stay in a specified area (usually within Texas or the U.S.),
  • Pay all court-ordered costs, such as victim restitution, fines, and probation costs,
  • Financially support your dependents (e.g. spouse and children),
  • Complete your community service, unless the judge allows an exception because you are physically incapable,
  • Reimburse the county for a public defender appointed to you,
  • If ordered, submit to random alcohol or drug testing,
  • If ordered to stay in a community correction facility, obey all rules of the facility and pay your boarding fees,
  • If ordered, participate in substance abuse counseling and treatment,
  • If ordered by the court, wear an electronic monitoring device,
  • If ordered to, pay the required money towards the general revenue fund for any money that was paid under the Crime Victim’s Compensation Act,
  • If you were ordered to, pay the appropriate law enforcement agency for analyzing, storing and disposing of any raw materials, drugs, or drug paraphernalia connected to your case, and
  • If you were ordered to, make the required payment to Crime Stoppers.

When a court sets the terms of a defendant’s probation, the court is not limited to the above conditions. The court has the power to impose any condition that it deems relevant and reasonable if it will protect the victim, rehabilitate, punish, or help the probationer.

If you are facing state or federal charges in Plano or Dallas, don’t hesitate to contact Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC, for an aggressive defense.

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