There are two types of probation in California, summary or informal probation (for misdemeanors) and formal probation (for felonies). The legal description of probation can be found in Penal Code 1203(a).
When a person has been convicted of a crime worthy of jail time in California, there are two avenues open to the judge who pronounces sentence. The presiding judge may sentence a person to all or part of the jail time demanded by the conviction, or he or she may sentence the defendant to probation for a time equal to or exceeding the amount of jail time the conviction could have received.
What is Probation?
Probation is an alternative punishment for incarceration. When a person is convicted of a crime that could have received jail time, the judge will sometimes sentence the defendant to probation, rather than incarceration. The type of probation that a person is sentenced to is dependent on the severity of the conviction. Formal probation is the most serious form of probation and is used when a person has been convicted of a felony charge.
During probation, the defendant gives up certain rights and must abide by all of their probationary requirements to remain outside of jail for the term of their sentence. If a person on probation violates the terms of their probation, they will be required to serve the remainder of their sentence behind bars. Probation allows defendants the opportunity to serve their sentence while remaining outside of jail and able to work and support themselves and their family.
What is a Probation Violation?
Depending on the type of probation given, formal or informal, a defendant will have different standards to comply with for the duration of their probation. For informal probation, a defendant may be required to report occasionally to the court with updates during the probationary period, while making sure to not break any laws or get into any trouble with law enforcement during that time. Defendants who are given “formal” or felony probation will have a probation officer to whom they make regular reports and keep informed of their living situation and employment status.
Other terms of probation may involve refraining from contact with certain individuals or living within a specific geographical area. Other terms of probation depend on the crime for which the defendant has been convicted. Persons convicted of domestic violence may be required to complete classes on anger management or domestic battery. The person on probation may be required to pay fines, complete community service hours, participate in group therapy, refrain from breaking any laws, comply with driving controls such as DUI ignition devices, or wear a GPS ankle bracelet for the duration of the probation.
Common Terms of Probation
The terms of a person’s probation may vary, depending on the conviction and specific circumstances. It is common for probation terms to include a variety of the following:
- Payment of fines
- Restitution payments
- Group or individual therapy
- Community service
- Seek employment
- Abide by restraining orders
- Attend a rehabilitation program for drugs or alcohol
- Abstain from drugs and/or alcohol
- Installing an ignition interlock device
- Wearing a GPS monitor
- Obey all laws
- Report progress to a probation officer or the court
Failing to abide by any of the terms of probation will result in a probation violation, which could lead to a warrant being issued for your arrest. If you find yourself in violation of your probation and need assistance getting out of jail or staying out of jail, call Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds for probation violation bail bonds at (844) 400-2245.
Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds serves the residents of Southern California. With offices all over Southern California, Mr. Nice Guy can have a licensed bail bond agent by your side in a matter of minutes, to help you arrange for bail after a probation violation. For the fastest service, call Mr. Nice Guy today!
Probation Violation Warrant
If you are found to have violated the terms of your probation, you may have a warrant issued for your arrest. One of the most common probation violations is failing to appear before the court to report your progress. If you fail to appear, you may have a bench warrant issued for your arrest.
If you or someone you care about has had a probation violation warrant issued for them, call Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds right away. Mr. Nice Guy can help you arrange for bail bonds for your probation violation warrant and keep you from going back to jail. For probation violation bail bonds, call Mr. Nice Guy today at (844) 400-2245.
Failure To Appear Warrant
When a person is charged with a crime, they usually have the option to pay bail and get out of jail while they work through the legal proceedings against them. During this time of pretrial release, the defendant is required to comply with certain conditions, including ensuring that they appear for any court proceedings related to the charges against them.
Failing to appear for any court proceedings related to their charges will result in an additional charge of failure to appear and the issuing of a bench warrant for their immediate arrest. If a person with an FTA warrant is arrested, they must appear before the judge who issued the arrest and explain why they failed to appear.
Before a person with an FTA warrant will be allowed to get out of jail again, the defendant will be required to pay all of the bail related to the failure to appear charge and the original charges that they had been released for already. This can add up to quite a sum, as bail amounts can range from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the charges.
If a defendant cannot pay the required bail in cash, he or she may engage a bail bond agent to act on their behalf and file a bail bond with the court in place of the full amount of bail. This service costs just a fraction of the full cost of bail, usually 10%.
Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds can help you with a probation violation warrant and help you avoid being arrested again. Mr. Nice Guy works hard to save you money on failure to appear warrants and never charges hidden fees or annual renewal fees, should your case take more than a year to reach its conclusion.
For assistance with a failure to appear warrant, call Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds today at (844) 400-2245.
Bench Warrant
A bench warrant is an arrest warrant issued by a judge. There are many reasons why a judge might issue a bench warrant, including someone’s failure to appear for a court hearing or other proceeding against them. A judge might issue a bench warrant for:
- Failing to appear in court for a trial, arraignment, or hearing.
- Failing to pay a ticket or fine.
- Failing to comply with the conditions of parole or probation.
- Failing to comply with the condition of bail.
- An indictment by a grand jury.
Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds can help you find out if there is a bench warrant out for your arrest and help you clear it up before you have to do time behind bars. For assistance with bench warrants, call Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds at (844) 400-2245.
Is probation different from parole?
Parole and probation are both alternatives to incarceration. However, probation is generally a way to serve a suspended jail sentence, meaning that the person on probation never serves jail time. Whereas probation is a period of “community supervision” that occurs at the end of a prison or jail sentence and allows the parolee to serve the remainder of their sentence outside of prison or jail.
Both parole and probation carry serious and restrictive conditions that must be met for the defendant to remain un-incarcerated. Both conditions require that the defendant maintain contact with a parole or probation officer who is to be aware of where the defendant lives, works, and travels.
What’s the difference between probation and parole?
While both probation and parole serve as alternatives to incarceration, probation is a when a person serves their sentence entirely outside of prison or jail, while parole is a condition of release that happens at the end of a prison or jail sentence.
In other words, probation is imposed in place of a jail sentence, while parole takes place after having served all or part of a jail sentence. Both parole and probation carry serious and restrictive conditions that must be met for the defendant to remain un-incarcerated. Both conditions require that the defendant maintain contact with a parole or probation officer who is to be aware of where the defendant lives, works, and travels.
Bail Bond Loans for Probation Violations
Bail amounts can be thousands and even tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. This can make it hard for a family whose primary supporter finds themselves behind bars. Bail bonds make it possible for a person to get out of jail for just a tiny fraction of the full cost of bail. With bail bonds, a surety company files a bond, or promise, with the court that says, ‘If this person fails to fulfill the conditions of their preterm release, I will pay the full amount of the bail,’ and then the incarcerated individual is allowed to go free.
Bail bonds allow an arrested individual to get home to their families and jobs while they work through the legal proceedings involved with their arrest. While bail bonds don’t solve all of the problems related to an arrest, they can allow a family to keep their lives together, even during a difficult time.
The cost of bail bonds is generally 10% of the total cost of bail. This amount is set at the state level and is generally charged by all bail bond companies. At Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds, however, goes above and beyond to find ways to save clients money on bail bonds.
- Nice Guy uses a surety company that provides a discount on bail bonds in certain cases. If the defendant retains an attorney and pays the fee within the first 72-hours, Mr. Nice Guy can discount the bail bond premium to as low as 7%. No one offers a lower rate.
- Nice Guy Bail Bonds never charges hidden fees like other bail bond companies are known to do. You'll never be charged notary fees, travel expenses, “posting fees,” or processing fees.
- Nice Guy doesn't charge additional premiums such as annual premiums or late file premiums. They also don't charge interest on bail bond financing or any other fees.
In addition to low rates and no hidden fees, Mr. Nice Guy also offers payment plans for online bail bonds.
For the lowest rates on probation violation bail bonds and to discuss a loan for probation violation bail, give Mr. Nice Guy Bail Bonds a call at (844) 400-2245.
