If I Get in Trouble While on Probation What Happens?

MORE INFO: What Are the Top 3 Things to Do if Arrested for Criminal Charges in North Carolina?

Conditions of a suspended, probationary term may include:

• Costs of Court
• Fines
• Probation Supervision Fees
• Drug and Alcohol Treatment
• Mental Health Treatment
• Abstinence from Legal and Illegal Substances
• Warrantless Searches
• Condition of Employment
• Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
• Attend school or obtain your GED
• Refrain from criminal activity
• Do not associate with co-defendants or people known to be actively engaged in criminal pursuits
• Do not contact, threaten, or harass the prosecuting witness
• “Be of good behavior”
• House Arrest
• Curfew
• Electronic Monitoring (EM)
• SCRAM – Secured Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring
• Write a letter of apology

See More: Probation in North Carolina

The Court may impose probation necessary to ensure the defendant will lead a law-abiding life – N.C.G.S. 15A-1343

Within the Sentencing Guidelines regarding the imposition of a Community Punishment or Intermediate Sentence, the Court is given a large amount of discretion in setting forth the terms and conditions of probation. Put simply, NC Judges get to decide how to punish you for criminal charges and what you will need to do to make amends.

The North Carolina General Assembly, through the North Carolina criminal laws under NCGA Chapter 15A entitled “Article 82 - Probation,” authorizes a sentencing Judge to put conditions in place that “assist” the convicted person in leading a “law-abiding life” that the Court may deem “reasonably necessary.”

It is important to note Structured Sentencing requires an analysis by the sentencing Court of the type of the offense in North Carolina, depending of the level of the allegations, felony or misdemeanor criminal charges in NC, the prior criminal record of the offender, and the consequences to the community and victim(s).

It can be difficult to understand the NC probation laws, especially for people with little prior experience with criminal court in North Carolina.

“Sometimes people facing allegations of criminal charges fail to understand the severity of the offense or what they’re facing if convicted of either felony or misdemeanor charges. I think it’s fair to say, the Judge is in charge, not you.”
Bill Powers

It is also important to understand that there is a difference between Felony and Misdemeanor charges as it pertains to sentencing in North Carolina. For example, possession of marijuana charges in NC can be felony or misdemeanor, depending on the amount of marijuana seized, and the nature and circumstances of the arrest.

Assault and Assault and Battery charges in North Carolina vary between felony or misdemeanor, depending on the factual basis of the criminal allegations. Certain types of larceny charges in NC can be felony or misdemeanor criminal allegations. That’s true too for abuse and neglect cases.

Whereas there are some types of cases that are always felony criminal charges in North Carolina, like murder, manslaughter, rape, statutory rape, sex offenses, burglary, drug trafficking, common law robbery, armed robbery or robbery with dangerous weapon, arson and obviously, habitual felon charges in NC.

See More: Misdemeanor Punishment Chart 2018

Defense attorneys in NC often refer to the “Grid” or “Sentencing Grid” or “Sentencing Chart” when explaining sentencing. At our law office, we normally just refer to it as the “Grid.”

The North Carolina courts provide two primary “grids” that defense lawyers, prosecutors, and judges work with in court, plus the unique NC DWI special sentencing grid:

• Misdemeanor Sentencing
• Felony Sentencing
• *Special Misdemeanor Sentencing – DWI Impaired Driving

Driving While Impaired DWI DUI Sentencing in North Carolina, while often a misdemeanor, is sentenced “off-grid,” consistent with the provisions on N.C.G.S. 20-179.

See More: Punishments for DWI Charges in North Carolina

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A Probation Officer, sometimes referred to by people as a “PO,” is assigned to the case and makes regular reports back to the Court regarding how the “Probationer” is progressing with the supervision and the terms and conditions of probation in North Carolina.

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An Order for Arrest (OFA) may be issued for a Violation of Probation:

• Probationer is subject to arrest by a Law Enforcement Officer
• The Probation Officer may be given the authority to Arrest by an
  • Order issued by the Court sua sponte OR
  • After Written Request of the PO, together with a written statement indicating the violated conditions
  • See N.C.G.S. 15A-1345

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• (1) Extension – The judge may order an extension of the NC probation term
• (2) Modification – additional terms of the probation may be added on (Example: more community service hours)
• (3) Revocation – The judge may revoke the probation and instead order enactment of the original sentence, that means jail or prison in North Carolina.

Probation officers also have power granted to them known as “delegated authority” which allows them to impose certain regulations and rules on their probationer without needing specific consent from the Court.

• N.C.G.S. 15A-1343.2
• “Dip, Dip, Dunk”
• Probation officer may exercise authority delegated by the Judge pursuant to subsection (e) of N.C.G.S. 15A-1343.2:

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• Community Service and Community Service Fee
• Curfew and House Arrest
• Electronic Monitoring
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Substance Abuse Monitoring, Testing, and Assessment
• Educational or Vocational Training
• Satellite Monitoring
• Confinement in “Local Confinement Facility”
• EHA – Electronic House Arrest
• Report to PO on frequency directed by Probation Officer

See Related: Special Probation Rules in North Carolina

Hi, there. Charlotte criminal lawyer Bill Powers here. Our attorneys in Charlotte occasionally see email questions that are posted on different listservs and one of the things I like to do is answer these real-world questions. In doing this, our attorneys in North Carolina can provide some real-world legal experience to them.

These frequently asked questions are not from an existing client, nor do our lawyers typically even know the person’s name who posted the query. The question comes from a person who has posted on a general listserv in North Carolina. It may say, “I am on probation for a larceny charge. I received a new charge. Was convicted. Can a lawyer and my PO,” (which is a popular acronym for “probation officer”), “help keep me out of jail?”

Well, that’s a good question and the scenario is not that unusual. People will be placed on probation. Sometimes it’s supervised probation, sometimes it’s unsupervised probation, and then the same person is facing new charges. It’s a natural reaction or natural question to ask, “What’s going to happen to me?”

So, different levels or types of probation in North Carolina. Plus, it is important to understand that I’m speaking about North Carolina state probation as opposed to federal probation. Let’s assume that you’re on regular, supervised probation in North Carolina. You’re not on intensive probation. You don’t have quite the level of unsupervised probation sometimes we would see with a more minor matter and so, indeed, you do have a probation officer and now you’ve picked up a new criminal violation. Technically, what our Charlotte attorneys try to warn people about is a new charge after having been on probation is technically a violation of the first case of probation. Not only can a new criminal charge affect that, but the new legal charge may carry separate penalties and consequences.

To answer the question, can your Charlotte lawyer or Mecklenburg probation officer help? I say “maybe” because sometimes a probation officer does not want to help. Maybe the probation officer may be seeking a revocation of your probation.

In other instances, and we do see this pretty regularly, the probation officer may vouch for the probationer doing fairly well in compliance with probation terms. You know, he’s doing well otherwise. He is keeping in touch with me. He is following through on alcohol or drug treatment. He is doing his community service and paying his fines and costs and probation supervision fees. I don’t want to violate them. I’m going to recommend that he be continued on probation.”

Can a lawyer help? Well, yes. If nothing else, our North Carolina criminal attorneys can provide you with information and, if nothing else, be the person standing next to you in court both on the new charge and also any violation or what we call revocation hearing. It could be a bit complicated. It could be a bit scary because oftentimes probation is put into place in lieu of or instead of an active term. If you’re revoked on probation or your probation is terminated, the court can order that that suspended term be placed in effect. Give us a call. This is what we do. We help people through sometimes complicated and serious legal matters. I look forward to hearing from you.

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