The client charged with a felony and scared about the potential incarceration is usually only concerned about receiving a probationary grant. However, in many cases they really have no understanding of what probation entails.
In 2013, Maricopa County Adult Probation had 21,000 individuals under supervision and another 53,000 individuals under its expanded jurisdiction for pretrial services, interstate compact and other programs. Probation can run a maximum of up to 3 years for misdemeanors (exceptions are DUI for up to 5 years, or lifetime probation if a sex offense or sexually motivated offense). For a felony, probation can run up to 7 years (an Aggravated DUI can run for 10 years and any sex offense or crime committed with sexual motivation can result in LIFETIME probation)
At sentencing, the Court has options to place the defendant into any one of several different types of probation: unsupervised, supervised-standard, intensive probation (IPS), and interstate compact. There are also specialty probationary programs and terms for domestic violence offenses, drug offenses, DUI, sex offender offenses, white collar, mental health, and most recently, Veteran’s Court. These are just the type of supervision one may receive.
In addition to determining the type of supervision, the Court must also determine terms of incarceration, the terms of any type of work furlough or release, terms of community service, curfews, computer usage, and several other terms that may be imposed. Our job does not end when we obtain a probation grant for our clients. Rather, we need to understand the scope of potential probationary terms, their limits, and how to deal with working around any potential issues.
The first step must be to review the probation terms with our clients. In Court, the sentencing judge will quickly order the defendant receive “standard terms of probation.” They are numerous and in writing. But rarely does the court elaborate on the terms and only advises the defendant to sign for their terms. It is expected that Probation will subsequently go through the terms in detail, but that should really be our job.
When special terms of probation are at issue (sex crimes, white collar, mental health, etc…) I normally provide the terms of probation at the same time I provide my client a copy of the plea offer. In that way, they are fully apprised of the potential probationary terms they could face. And, as a practice pointer, being familiar with the terms of probationary supervision will allow you to negotiate which terms, if any, may be required and which can be left to the discretion of the court at the time of sentencing.
Many people wrongly believe that probation includes no incarceration. However, if convicted of a misdemeanor, one can receive up to 6 months in jail. If convicted of a felony, one can receive up to one year in jail. The benefit of probation and a jail term is that most offenses will allow for some form of work release or work furlough. Alternatively, if denied probation and sent to prison, any mechanism of maintaining their current employment is not possible.
Most misdemeanor courts will permit work release when ordering a probationary grant. For work release, the Court will set the terms of release and there is normally no verification or supervision by any probation officer of the defendant’s workplace or work status.
For a felony, work furlough is ordered as a term of probation. Work furlough is approved by and monitored by Probation. As a practice pointer, you need to make sure the Court orders your client into work furlough rather than just authorizing the defendant’s entry into the program if permitted by probation. You also need to make sure they are screened for work furlough prior to sentencing.
The Court cannot force the jail to comply with its work order. If the jail precludes the defendant from the general population, the defendant will have no access to enter and exit the jail for work release or furlough. This restriction often applies to defendant’s with medical conditions, mental health issues, or those that have been convicted of a sex offense. So even if the issue is permitted by the plea agreement or ordered by the Court, work release and furlough may be denied by the jail.
As a practice pointer, the defendant inability to work while in custody, must be used when engaging in plea negotiations. The fact your client will be serving flat time with no work may allow the prosecutor or court to consider a lesser term of incarceration.
Failure to comply with probation terms can result in their probation being revoked and being ordered to serve additional jail or prison time. There are ways to challenge probation and, in some cases ways to terminate probation early. The records they have kept can make a substantial difference in how the court resolves a probation violation or request to terminate probation.
Howard Snader is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. If you or anyone you know has been accused of any felony or misdemeanor, please call him at (602) 825-3031, email him at HowardSnader@hotmail.com or visit his website at https://snaderlawgroup.com
