Alternatives To Time In Jail Or State Penitentiary
At one time, community supervision was called “adult probation.” Community supervision is an alternative to time spent in jail or in a state penitentiary, and the goal is for the individual to gain a positive result and change their lives for the better. The conditions of community supervision are usually extremely strict, and if you fail to fully adhere to every term, you could once again be incarcerated. If you have the option of getting community supervision as your sentence, it could be beneficial to you, as you can avoid spending time behind bars, but the process does have drawbacks that you should be aware of if you are offered this option. It should also be noted that some attorneys do not like to go to court to pursue an acquittal and always prefer to “cut a deal.” Our criminal defense team has extensive trial experience, and if we believe that your case is better served by seeking a full acquittal, we will discuss this matter with you and explain the various options so that you can make an informed decision. We are not afraid to take a case to trial, and we have achieved many victories in difficult criminal cases.
If it will best serve your interests to pursue community supervision, we will do so. This is frequently offered as part of a DWI case. We should review your case at once if you are charged with any criminal offense.
Texas Code Of Criminal Procedure & Community Supervision
The Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) has been given the duty to oversee and administer the program. The process begins with the intake at the CSCD, and you can expect the intake to take several hours. There are various fees that could be ordered, including payment of fines, payment of court costs, payment of adult probation fees, as well as the possibility of being required to pay court-appointed attorney fees or restitution in some cases. Your case will be managed by your probation officer. You will be required to complete certain classes, such as alcohol or drug treatments, anger management or other types of treatment that the court may deem necessary in your case. You will be required to attend meetings with your probation officer, and it is crucial that you never miss a meeting. You could have a warrant issued for a probation violation and could face probation revocation and once again be taken into custody if you fail to arrive for your appointments or fail any other term of your probation. In certain instances, you may be required to submit to random alcohol or drug testing. Any positive drug test or alcohol test could mean loss of your community supervision and the requirement to spend more time in jail. You could even face added time if the judge feels that you are a danger to the community or to yourself, or that you are not taking your situation seriously. It is advised that you carefully adhere to every requirement throughout the term of your community supervision. If you were convicted of a DWI offense, you may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle you operate. If you were ordered to complete a drug or alcohol treatment class, you are given a restricted period of time in which to do so, and you must submit evidence that you have completed the class in full, or you could be in further legal trouble. In some cases, a convicted offender may be required to wear an electronic monitoring device (ELM). Your location will be restricted for a certain time period, and you will be monitored. If you are accused of either removing the device or being present outside the restricted area, you could have serious trouble.
Speak With A Plano Criminal Defense Lawyer!
If you have the option of community supervision as part or all of your sentence, our legal team should review your situation and your case. It is possible that there are other options. You can be confident that you will get straight answers, and, if there are other directions that will better serve you, we can quickly determine the best course of action for you in your case. Get help now from our Plano criminal attorney for information about community supervision!
