When you are charged with a crime in Georgia and learn that you could receive probation, you may consider this a good option. After all, most people see probation as a better alternative to a jail or prison sentence.
However, before you commit to probation, it is important to understand what exactly probation is and the requirements involved.
Georgia, like most states, offers probation to criminal offenders as an alternative to spending time in jail or prison. But probation comes with several conditions.
The conditions depend on your specific case, but they may be stricter than you realize. Additionally, if you fail to comply with the conditions, your probation could be revoked and you could be sentenced to serve your original jail sentence.
General and specific conditions of probation
Some general conditions of probation could include:
- Complying with federal, state and local laws
- Not moving from your residence without permission
- Not traveling out of state without permission
- Regularly reporting to your probation officer
Other conditions might include maintaining suitable employment and avoiding certain places. You could be forbidden from having contact with certain people. This normally includes any form of contact, such as text or social media messages.
If your crime involved alcohol or drugs, your probation conditions will also likely require you to abstain from drug and alcohol consumption, attend a drug or alcohol treatment program and/or submit to random drug and alcohol screenings.
Probation can be expensive
Probation also usually involves financial costs. You may be required to pay probation fees and restitution to any victims of your crime. Participation in community service or other programs could be required.
If this sounds like a lot of responsibility, that’s because it is. Probation is often a huge time commitment. Adhering to all conditions of probation can sometimes make it difficult to get back on your feet or move forward in life until your probation is served.
Another potential problem with probation is not knowing what constitutes a violation. For example, you must follow the law while on probation. But what if you are out in public, a fight breaks out, police are called and everyone is detained?
You may not have started the fight or been involved at all. It could be a legitimate “wrong place, wrong time” situation, but if you are detained, you might be unsure if you are supposed to report this to your probation officer, and if so, what will happen.
In a worse-case scenario, your probation officer may find out about the situation before you have a chance to explain your side of it. The police officers could even let you go after learning you were not involved in the fight, but what if your probation officer takes steps to revoke your probation before learning this?
Make the choice that is right for you
Although everything might work out in the end, many people do not want to take the chance of putting themselves in that situation to begin with and will choose jail time over probation.
Despite what many people believe, probation does not always mean getting off lightly. You should be careful when deciding to accept an offer of probation. Depending on your situation, perhaps it is easier to spend time in jail than complete all the requirements of probation.
