Probation Violation in Pinellas County, FL

Many people agree to be on probation to resolve their criminal case. What happens if you violate the terms of your probation? The probation officer can ask the court to sign a warrant for your arrest or to require you to appear in court.

How your case will be resolved depends on:

• whether you are on probation for a felony or a misdemeanor;
• why you violated probation;
• whether you come back into compliance or catch up with the requirements; or
• whether you can show the court that you can complete the terms with no future violations.

An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you take a proactive approach when dealing with an accusation that you violated probation. Sometimes, we can contact your probation officer to head off the violation. Once the violation affidavit is filed, we can help you come back into compliance.

Instead of sitting in jail for weeks while you wait for a court date, a criminal defense attorney can help you during an emergency bond hearing so that you can ask for a court date within days.

Attorneys for Violation of Probation in Pinellas County, FL

If your probation officer intends to file an affidavit alleging that you violated your probation with a substantive or technical violation, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.

We can help you understand the consequences of a felony or misdemeanor probation violation. Contact us to learn more about the best ways to deal with a substantive or technical violation of probation or community control.

We can answer your questions about how much jail time the court typically imposes for that violation and ways to avoid the typical results.

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm also help clients accused of violating the conditions of their pre-trial release. We can also help you petition the court for early termination of probation if you have completed all of the special conditions.

Our office is located in Clearwater, FL, near the CJC Courthouse. Visit our office at 14010 Roosevelt Blvd Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33762-3820.

Call 727-210-7004. 

Probation and Community Control in Pinellas County, FL

In Pinellas County, FL, probation is a form of community supervision requiring specified contacts with probation officers and compliance with certain terms and conditions as explained in Section 948.001(8), F.S.

After a person is convicted of a criminal offense, the court in Pinellas County, FL, determines the terms and conditions of probation. The standard conditions of probation typically include the following:

• being prohibited from using intoxicants to excess or possessing any drugs or narcotics.
• being prohibited from possessing, carrying, or owning a firearm or weapon, without the probation officer’s consent;
• paying restitution to any aggrieved party for the damage or loss caused by the offense;
• not violating the law;
• residing at a specified place;
• working at suitable employment, when possible;
• permitting the probation officer to visit your home; and
• reporting to the probation officer as directed.

In Pinellas County, FL, community control is a form of intensive supervised custody of an offender who remains in the community, but whose freedom is restricted within the home, community, or noninstitutional residential placement and includes specific sanctions and monitoring by probation officers with restricted caseloads.

In addition to the standard conditions of probation, an offender on community control must:

• for a felony – be supervised by the DOC using an electronic monitoring device or system;
• for a misdemeanor – be supervised by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Misdemeanor Probation Unit;
• complete mandatory public service;
• be confined to an agreed-upon residence during any hours he or she is away from work or public service activities; and
• maintain specified contact with his or her parole or probation officer.

Special conditions of probation might include:

• community service (community service coordinator communityservice@pcsonet.com)
• defensive basic driver improvement course
• advanced driver improvement
• DUI school:
  • Level I
  • Level 2
• evaluation:
  • alcohol
  • substance abuse
  • other
• vehicle impoundment:
  • 10 days
  • 30 days
• victim impact panel
  • in person Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office $25
  • online youimpact.com or maddvip.org
• jail sentence ( at the Pinellas County Jail, 14400 49th St. N., Clearwater, FL 33762)
• monitor alcohol (CAM) (costs $10 per day)
• Monitor GPS (EMP) (costs $7 per day)
• no alcohol, bars, or clubs (or court approved exception per court order)
• no marijuana
• random drug screens (must report within 24 hours of notification)

You might be asked to sign an understanding condition #1 form that explains you during your probation period; you must report in person or via secure internet reporting each month, or on an assigned date, to Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office unless otherwise directed by your Probation Specialist.

You must acknowledge that during your probation period, you will not be given any notice relative to missed appointment but will instead be charged with a violation of probation, and a warrant will be issued for your arrest.

Additional Resources

Misdemeanor Probation in Pinellas County, FL – Visit the website of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office to learn more about the office for Misdemeanor Probation located at 14500 49th Street, North Suite 130, in Clearwater, FL 33762. The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The phone number for the Misdemeanor Probation Office in Pinellas County is 727-464-8100. The Misdemeanor Probation Unit in Pinellas County confirms that the special conditions of probation have been completed, including community service requirements, the payment of court-related fees for probation, the completion of substance abuse and mental health evaluations, and urine drug observed screening collection and on-site analysis.

Attorney for Violation of Probation in Pinellas County – Read more about the best way to resolve a violation of probation case at the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762.

This article was last updated on Friday, September 6, 2024.