Georgia Probation Termination Lawyer
Ben is a Cobb County Criminal Defense Attorney and Cobb County Criminal Appeals Attorney who has successfully helped numerous people end their probation earlier than anticipated. Many people don't know that probation sentences can sometimes be terminated. Georgia law provides that probation may be terminated early so long as the sentencing court determines that termination is in “the best interests of justice and the welfare of society.” Notwithstanding this broad definition, the bottom line is that the probationer must generally prove that there no longer exists a valid reason for keeping them supervised in the community.
Motion for Early Termination
There is no "one size fits all" formula to this, but in order to pursue an early termination of probation you must generally have two things going for you. First, you must have completed, and abided by, all the conditions or your sentence. These include payment of the fine, community service and alcohol/drug abuse classes.
Second, you must establish that your probation has not been violated, or at least that it has not been violated in a significant period of time. If you have incurred arrests subsequent to being placed on probation, the sentencing judge is unlikely to do you any favors.
If you can meet those criteria, a motion requesting early termination of the probation can be filed. Ben has argued and won dozens of these motions, and he knows from experience how important it is to have all your ducks in a row before appearing before the judge. Sometimes that means calling witnesses, obtaining affidavits or providing other relevant documentation.
It is also important to know in advance the judge who will be presiding over the motion. Some judges are not inclined to grant early termination motions. Other judges are not inclined to grant them in particular types of cases.
If you are on probation, and no longer want to be, call a Cobb County Criminal Appeals Lawyer today at 404-985-9772 to discuss whether early termination is a possibility for you.