America is home to over 330 million people, and it makes up 5% of the world’s population. However, 20% of the world’s prisoners are located in the United States. To mitigate this, the justice system has had to find alternatives. One alternative is letting prisoners out on probation, which involves supervising an individual in their community through a probation officer and releasing them due to good behavior.
If you’re among the nearly 200,000 people on probation in Michigan, you may be worried about ending your probation. Fortunately, there are a number of surefire ways to comply with your probation officer (PO) and fast-track the process. Here are some of them.
Follow Probation Conditions To a T
This is the first and easiest step you can take. Some key provisions in Michigan include not leaving the state without your PO’s consent, reporting to your PO as often as they require, and not violating any laws or ordinances applicable to your area. You’ll also be charged a number of fines relating to restitution, supervision, and probation oversight. Meanwhile, you may receive additional conditions depending on your case, such as completing community service or therapy sessions related to things like substance abuse. It’s important to attend to all your commitments in a punctual manner.
Cultivate a Favorable Image With Your Probation Officer
If you’re among the nearly 200,000 people on probation in Michigan, you may be worried about ending your probation. Fortunately, there are a number of surefire ways to comply with your probation officer (PO) and fast-track the process. Here are some of them.
According to a seminal study published by the Rochester Institute of Technology, a PO’s perception of your progress can greatly affect the likelihood of your release. Therefore, it’s crucial that you prove that you’re keen on improving your current situation. For example, it’s important keep steady employment, even if you’re not required to. This can help pay off your fines, and, more importantly, keep you busy and out of trouble. Additionally, keep away from any negative situations which could land you in trouble with the law, or have gotten you into trouble before. Instead, stay around family and friends who will provide you support, and avoid alcohol as much as possible. This can prevent you from committing any further offenses and prove to your PO that you’re intent on changing your ways.
Communicate Frequently and Effectively
Misunderstandings during probation do occur, and they may be used against you. To avoid this, be honest with your PO. If you’re having difficulty paying off probation fees or child care costs, openly discuss it with your probation officer. Be especially transparent when it comes to your whereabouts, as you may be accused of absconding or concealing your location. In Michigan, this occurs when you don’t keep a probation-related appointment. As such, if you feel like you’ll miss one, make sure you let them know ahead of time that you will need to reschedule. More importantly, be respectful when it comes to dealing with your PO. This can help improve your relationship and work in your favor.
Stick By Your Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you don’t know the details of your probation inside out, it could lead to accidental violations, so contact your criminal defense lawyer if you have any issues or concerns. These lawyers undergo programs related to criminal justice that train them to be well-rounded and versatile when it comes to helping people integrate back into society. Defense lawyers study core subjects not just in law, but in psychology and the social sciences as well — giving them a deeper understanding of the law. So, they can help you navigate the complexities of your probation and advise you how to improve compliance and avoid problems later on. More importantly, they can defend you if you commit a violation and keep you on track for release.
Not everyone is fortunate to get an understanding PO and some may even actively work against you. It’s rare for courts to assign you a new PO, so if you feel like yours may accuse you of violating your parole, such as through producing a fabricated drug test, keep extensive records to support your claims. This will not only make it easier for your lawyer to defend you, but also prevent the judge from taking the PO’s word over yours.
The road to probation release may be a bumpy one. But by going above and beyond to comply with your PO, you should get through just fine. Just make sure you keep a detailed record of everything you need to comply with and follow it to the letter.
Written by Frances Seline specially for criminaldefenselawcenterwestmichigan.com