Probation Violations

Arizona Violation of Probation - Bench Warrants - Release

At the Weingart Law Firm in Tempe, our attorneys represent persons charged with violation of the terms of an Arizona probation order. These cases typically are begun with the defendant's probation officer filing a petition for a bench warrant, which the a judge signs, and local law enforcement executes by making an arrest. If you have been arrested for an alleged violation of your Arizona probation, contact the Phoenix criminal defense attorneys at the Weingart Law Firm  in Tempe.

When a suspect is arrested for a probation violation, he or she is typically held in jail for 21 days with little or no prospect for release within that period. During that period, defense counsel can negotiate with the probation officer to minimize the risk of new charges being filed against the probationer, with the objective of limiting the exposure to jail time to the 21 days served after execution of the bench warrant. In cases involving one or more missed appointments with the probation office, failure to take a drug test, or missing violent offender treatment classes, it's often possible to avoid further consequences, depending on the overall record of the defendant.

In other cases, where a probation violation is combined with an arrest for a new offense, the situation is more serious. If convicted of the new offense, the policy in Maricopa County is to require the offender to finish the original sentence of incarceration, with the jail or prison time on the new offense to run after the original sentence is completed. The assistance of experienced and knowledgeable defense counsel is therefore essential to minimize the risk of consecutive sentencing on Arizona probation violations with new charges.

The most common new offenses involve drug possession, DUI, weapons offenses, and domestic violence. At the Weingart Law Firm, our experience with probation violations and Arizona sentencing practices can represent a significant advantage in avoiding the risk of consecutive sentences. For a free consultation about your specific probation problem and alternatives for maintaining your probationary status, contact an Arizona probation violation lawyer at the Weingart Law Firm in Tempe.