What Happens if I Violate My Parole in Tennessee?

Being released from prison early is a privilege that many do not receive. If you violate your parole in Tennessee, you could face a plethora of consequences and legal penalties. It is important that you understand your rights and options during this time, so work with a knowledgeable Memphis criminal defense attorney for skilled representation today.

What is Parole?

Parole is a legal status that grants incarcerated individuals the right to be released early, given that they abide by certain rules while out in the community. It is a form of conditional release, meaning that they are no longer in prison but are not technically free. Instead, they are serving the remainder of their sentence while living and reintegrating into their community.

Parolees must abide by various terms and conditions to ensure they continue being supervised and obeying the rules of their release. Common parole conditions include the following.

• Report regularly to the parole officer
• Obey laws and avoid all criminal activity
• Refrain from drug or alcohol use
• Abide by a curfew
• Remain within a geographical area and request permission to travel
• Maintain employment and housing
• Inform the parole officer of changes in employment or housing
• Avoid contact with specific individuals, like victims of the offense or known criminals
• Complete community service
• Submit to random searches of the person, residence, or other property

The actual conditions you are subject to will vary depending on the details of your offense. A violation can occur anytime you disobey the rules or act in opposition to one or more of the terms.

What Happens if I Violate My Parole in TN?

Violating parole can result in significant consequences. If your parole officer has reasonable cause to believe that you have violated the conditions of your parole in a manner significant enough to warrant investigation, they will report the information they have to the director of probation and parole. The director will then review the report and determine whether or not to issue a warrant for your arrest.

You will attend a hearing in front of the parole board, which will examine the relevant evidence and decide whether or not you violated your parole. If it is determined that no violation was committed, you will be released and continue on parole.

However, if it is determined that there was a violation, you can incur several different penalties. In minor cases, you could have the length of your parole extended for additional supervision or be required to meet more stringent conditions.

For severe violations, however, you could be reincarcerated and required to serve out the remainder of your original sentence behind bars. If your parole violation was for the commission of a new crime, you could also be charged and convicted of a new offense and sentenced to an additional term of imprisonment.

The outcome of a parole violation will vary significantly depending on the details of the offense and the circumstances of your particular situation. To learn more and secure legal representation, reach out to an experienced attorney at Ballin, Ballin & Fishman, PC today.