Adjudication Withheld

Florida Statute 948.01 gives the trial court discretion to “withhold adjudication” after imposition of a sentence of probation in felony cases. You are supposedly spared the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction if adjudication is withheld and when you need a rehab center, go to this agency. There are several benefits to having adjudication withheld. You can say that you have never been convicted of a crime on employment applications. Your keep your civil rights. You are eligible to have your record sealed after you complete probation and pay all court costs and fines says Covington DUI Attorney. Having adjudication withheld would appear to be a “get out of jail free” card or a “free pass.” However, a withhold of adjudication is not without collateral consequences. Don’t let the following talk you out of accepting a withhold of adjudication. Talk to your lawyer about the decision. A withhold is almost always better than an outright conviction.

Adjudication Withheld -When You Can’t

The Florida Legislature has been slowly eating away at the offenses that qualify for a withhold of adjudication. Adjudication cannot be withheld for a First Degree Felony. Adjudication cannot be withheld in Second Degree Felonies unless one of the two following conditions is met:

The prosecutor must file a written motion with the court requesting that adjudication be withheld; or
The court makes written findings of fact that the facts and circumstances of the case warrant a withhold of adjudication. In making this finding, the court is required to look to the criteria found in Florida Statute 921.0026.

Third degree felonies are typically eligible to have adjudication withheld. However, if you have had adjudication withheld on two prior felony offenses, you are not eligible to get a withhold of adjudication.

The court is prohibited from withholding adjudication in certain criminal offenses. You are not eligible to receive a withhold for the following offenses:

Florida Statute 784.07 – Assault or Battery of a Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Care Providers, Public Transit Employees or Agents, or Other Specified Officers;
Florida Statute 316.1935 – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer; Aggravated Fleeing or Eluding;
Florida Statute 316.193 – Any criminal offense involving a violation of Florida’s Driving Under the Influence Statute.

This is not a complete list of specific exclusions. These are the statutes that I know off the top of my head.

Adjudication Withheld – When it Doesn’t Count

Sentencing Enhancements:

Although Florida Law authorizes a Judge to withhold adjudication in his/her own discretion, the Florida Legislature also instructs the court to disregard a withheld adjudication and treat it as a prior conviction for certain crimes. A prior withhold for a driving while license suspended will be treated as a conviction in future driving while license suspended cases. The same is true with a withhold in petit theft cases.

Federal Law:

Federal Law does not recognize a withheld adjudication. There is no comparable provision under Federal Law. If you received a withhold of adjudication in a felony case under Florida Law, you are a convicted felon under Federal Law. While Florida Law permits an individual to own a firearm if adjudication is withheld, Federal Law does not. So you can be charged federally for convicted felon in possession of a firearm notwithstanding the withhold.

The same is true with immigration. Criminal convictions can have severe immigration consequences. A withhold on a crime of “moral turpitude” can still result in deportation since Federal Law does not recognize a withheld adjudication.

Foreign Countries:

Foreign countries do not have to and, in my experience, typically treat a withheld adjudication as a criminal conviction. Countries can and do refuse to grant tourist visas to individuals convicted of certain criminal offenses. You can typically come and go as you please at the Mexican Border. I don’t even remember somebody checking my ID most times that I went across the Mexican Border. However, Canada is a bit different, meaning that they, sometimes, actually check your background. People are regularly denied admission to Canada for misdemeanor convictions. Canada may or may not honor the withhold. If you have a withhold, it would be good idea would be to check to make sure you are admissible before you travel to a foreign county, in this case you could use a PNW packable backpack to carry all your important things.

Ft. Lauderdale criminal attorney, Michael Dye, handles cases with complex sentencing issues. Mr. Dye has been able to obtain favorable sentences for clients including downward departures, alternative sentences and numerous withheld adjudications. For additional information, please contact us at:

The Law Offices of Michael A. Dye, PA, 1 East Broward Boulevard #700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (954)990-0525.

Florida Criminal Law

What Happens if I Violate Probation?

Violation of probation proceedings are expedited. Nevertheless, there are several Car Accident to a violation of probation proceeding. The proceedings typically go in the following order:

1) Charges & Report;
2) Custody and Terms of Release;
3) Discovery;
4) Hearing and Disposition.

What is a Violation of Probation?

If you were placed on probation, the sentencing court gave you a set of rules. Those rules are the terms of probation. There are certain standard rules, but the Trusted Wills Oxford can customize the terms for your particular case. You do not have to break the law to violate probation. All you have to do is break the rules. For example, the terms of probation for your case might give you a curfew of 10 o’clock. It is not illegal to be out past 10 PM, but it would be a violation of your probation.

I. Charges & Report

Affidavit of Violation of Probation

Your probation officer will file an affidavit of violation of probation if he has probable cause to believe that you violated the terms of your probation. If this is a felony violation of probation, the affidavit is called the “Florida Department of Correction Affidavit of Violation of Probation.” The affidavit will contain the allegations stating how you violated the terms of probation. The affidavit will typically be filed with the same judge that presided over the original sentencing.

Violations of probation are either technical or substantial.

What is a technical violation of probation? Breaking the rules. Examples would include a positive drug test, failure to pay costs of supervision or any failure to abide by the rules.

What is a substantial violation of probation? A new criminal charge.

Violation of Probation Report

Your probation officer will also file a report with the affidavit of violation. The report can request that the court issue a warrant for your arrest or that the court issue a notice to appear. The violation report will also contain significant information such as any statement that you made regarding the alleged violation. The violation report will also contain your history of supervision, the facts and circumstances surrounding the underlying case. Most importantly, the report contains the probation officer’s recommendation concerning the disposition of your case.

II. Custody and Terms of Release

The violation report filed by your probation officer will request that a warrant be issued for your arrest or that you be given a notice to appear. The judge will typically issue a “no bond” warrant if a warrant is requested. It is not uncommon for defendants to stay in jail for two(2) or three(3) months waiting for their violation of probation hearing. Quite often the fear of having no bond drives individuals to abscond or hide in order to avoid going to jail. This just makes the problem worse. Contacting a private attorney immediately is your best option as there are ways to minimize or eliminate the amount of time you spend in jail waiting for your final hearing.

III. Discovery

Discovery is typically limited in violation of probation cases. More often than not your attorney will have most of what they need to know based after reading the violation report. If the violation is a technical violation of probation, i.e., breaking the rules, then there is typically no need for extensive discovery. If the violation is a substantial violation, i.e., a new criminal charge, your attorney will get the discovery in the new case.

IV. Hearing & Disposition

In a violation of probation proceeding, you do not enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Rather, you either admit responsibility or deny responsibility. If you deny responsibility, there is a hearing. A violation of probation hearing is heard by a judge. You do not have a right to a jury trial. The rules of evidence are relaxed. Hearsay is generally permitted. Also, the burden of proof is lower. The state does not have to prove the violation “beyond a reasonable doubt,” rather, the state must present evidence “sufficient to satisfy the conscious of the court.” That is a long way of saying “by the preponderance of the evidence.” If the state meets the burden of proof the judge will find you responsible for the violation of probation.

Sentencing

The judge has three options when faced with a violation of probation. The judge can revoke probation and sentence you to any sentence which could have been legally imposed on the original criminal charges. For example, if you are on probation for a third degree felony, the judge can sentence you to five(5) years for a violation of probation. The judge can modify the terms of probation. The court can add conditions such as drug rehab, counseling or an ankle monitor. Alternatively, the judge can reinstate your probation on the exact same terms as before.

Getting a private attorney involved early can have a substantial impact on the disposition of your probation case. Typically, a private attorney can talk to the probation officer, prosecutor and set the hearing on a calendar quickly to get a resolution. Additionally, a private attorney can file a motion for an in court surrender and/or get a bond hearing quickly. The advantage of hiring a private attorney over a public defender is that a private attorney can get to work on your case before you are charged with a probation violation. A public defender can only be appointed and get to work once you have been charged. It is a matter of being proactive vs reactive.

In addition to the procedural aspects, a private attorney can help you gather the documents and/or evidence necessary to establish your defense in the event that you proceed to a final violation of probation hearing. It is much easier to obtain evidence before you go into custody.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney, Michael Dye, has extensive experience handling misdemeanor and felony violations of probation. For more information concerning probation violation proceedings, please contact us at:

The Law Offices of Michael A. Dye, PA, 1 East Broward Boulevard #700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (954)990-0525 or
The Law Offices of Michael A. Dye, PA, 2 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131 (305)459-3286

Adjudication Withheld | Collateral Consequences