Houston Federal Supervised Release Violation Lawyer
FEDERAL SUPERVISED RELEASE VIOLATION LAWYER – HOUSTON, TX
A federal halfway home violation can result in even harsher penalties than were imposed for the underlying conviction. Federal supervised release always includes monitoring and other obligations that must be met in order for a parolee to remain free.
When someone is accused of violating the terms of a federally-supervised release program, they should promptly enlist the services of a Houston post-release supervision violation attorney.
Post-Release Supervision
The U.S. supervised release program is overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Once a prisoner has completed the prison sentence for a federal criminal conviction, they may be eligible to participate in a federally supervised release program. This program typically lasts from three to five years. Every participant is required to report regularly to a federal supervised release officer while avoiding involvement in criminal activity. Depending on the nature of the underlying conviction, a supervised release could also involve the following:
- Anger management classes
- Employment
- Rehabilitation for illicit drug crimes
- Education program
Once a released prisoner has successfully completed a U.S. supervised release program, the Bureau of Prisons dispels all monitoring requirements. Among the most common federal release violations are the following:
- Refusing to report to one’s assigned officer
- Failing a drug test
- Violating one’s mandatory curfew
- Committing additional criminal activity
- Neglecting to pay court-ordered restitution or fines
Probation Penalties
A halfway home violation is quite similar to a parole violation, except that the former only pertains to federal criminals. When a person violates the terms of release, the supervising officer has the power to file a violation warrant. This will result in the individual being arrested and the scheduling of a violation hearing to decide whether the prisoner should be confined once again.
The judge who originally sentenced the individual to federal prison will preside at the violation hearing. Depending on the seriousness of the post-release violation, the judge may refuse to release the prisoner on bond. In addition, the judge has wide latitude to impose a prison sentence or modify the terms of release.
CONTACT A FEDERAL PROBATION VIOLATION LAWYER IN HOUSTON, TX
A post-release violation case should be handled with care because being sent back to prison is a very real possibility. A skilled criminal defense attorney knows how to investigate the alleged violation and protect the legal rights of the defendant. It may be possible to negotiate a reduction in penalties or the resumption of post-release supervision.
