Nobody wants to be on probation. The smallest misstep could lead to life-changing consequences, up to and include time in prison. The good news is that California does have options to terminate your probation early. This would put an end to the extra burden on you. Here are the five steps you’d need to follow to qualify.

Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney

When you contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we can file a request with the courts to have your probation terminated early, walk you through the legal process, argue why you deserve to shorten your probation, and make a convincing case at your hearing. When you hire a criminal defense attorney, you can feel confident that all paperwork will be filed, the hearing will be on the court’s calendar, and that all steps are followed correctly.

Make sure your record is clean

The decision for an early termination of your probation isn’t automatic – a judge must approve it. That means that they must be convinced that you’re deserving of it and certainly your chances of having early termination approved are much better if you stay out of trouble. You must also follow every term of your probation – this includes paying fines and restitution, as well as attending counseling sessions if you’re required to do so.

You’ll need to serve half your probation term

While technically, you can apply for early termination at any point, it’s generally true that judges won’t grant a request for people who haven’t served at least half of their probation.

We will petition the court

If you want the judge to consider your case then the first step is to have Law Office of Michael L. Fell make a formal request. We’ll give the court a strong argument on why you deserve early probation. We can also show any negative consequences of your probation, such as its effects on your employment. The district attorney will also need to be informed of your petition because they have the option of opposing your request. We know how to file your motion and argue for your case in court.

We’ll be there to handle the hearing

After the paperwork is officially filed, you’ll have a hearing date set where Law Office of Michael L. Fell will argue for your early termination case. Depending on the crime and how you’ve behaved on probation, the prosecutor may show up to oppose the motion. After everyone has said their piece, the judge will make their decision.

The judge may make the decision to terminate your probation immediately, they may deny your motion outright, or they may make a judgement that if you can stay out of trouble for some specified amount of time, they’ll grant the request at a later date.

No matter where you are in the process of defending yourself, whether you’re currently facing a charge of domestic violence, have served your time and need help with probation, or you’re looking for information on behalf of a loved one, Law Office of Michael L. Fell is here for you. Contact us today at (949) 585-9055 for a free case evaluation.