Not everyone who is convicted of a felony in Iowa goes straight to prison. In many cases, the offender is placed on probation. In other cases, the offender serves only part of the sentence and is then released and placed on probation for the remainder of the sentence.
Probation comes with conditions. People on probation must meet regularly with a probation officer. They will generally be prohibited from carrying any kind of weapon, including knives. There will also be conditions tailored to the individual's offense. The offender may be prohibited from contacting former friends or associates who are involved in criminal activity. The offender may be required to remain drug-free.
A violation of the conditions of probation can result in an arrest warrant and a hearing before a judge. At the hearing, if the judge finds a violation has occurred, the offender can be sent to prison to serve out the remainder of the sentence.
At our law firm, we understand the seriousness of probation revocation hearings. We work hard to make sure our clients' side of the story is told. We carefully review the prosecution's evidence, looking for any inconsistencies or weaknesses. At the hearing, we fight for our clients' freedom as aggressively as we do at any criminal trial. Even though the initial guilty or not guilty part of the case is over, there can be serious sanctions for a probation violation. For more information about how our law firm attempts to help Iowa residents with their defenses to potential probation revocation, call today.