PAROLE VIOLATION ATTORNEY IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

Simply stated, parole is the release of a prisoner (for a special purpose) either temporarily or permanently before the completion of a prison term — all on the promise of good behavior. Parole does have certain conditions attached to it, and if those conditions are ever violated, it could result in the individual being sent back to prison. If you have violated parole or are unsure if you’ve committed a parole violation, it’s important that you understand the consequences.

That’s where I come in. As an experienced criminal defense and parole violation attorney, I am here to provide compassionate services to those who have been both accused and convicted of criminal charges in Tennessee. My firm, the Law Offices of Fisher Wise, has been serving the Chattanooga area since 2008. If you live in or around Chattanooga, or the surrounding areas of Red Bank, East Ridge, Soddy-Daisy, Marion County, Rhea County, or Sequatchie County, I stand by ready to help you in any way that I can.

How Parole is Violated

The Bureau of Justice Statistics in August of 2020 estimated that roughly 6.4 million individuals were held in prisons or jails or were on probation or parole in 2018 alone. That’s a significant number of people to keep tabs on. Through the years, I’ve learned just how easy it can be to commit a parole violation, even without ever intending to.

Parole can be violated in a few different ways. Some may seem more obvious in nature, such as failure to report to your parole officer. Others might be less obvious, such as traveling outside of the area without permission. Here are a few other common parole violations that you should be aware of:

1. Failure to Pay Fines

2. Unauthorized Contact with the Victim

3. Failure to Pass a Drug Test

4. Any arrest for an Unrelated Crime

If you are found to be in violation of your parole, you could be facing a number of consequences, including the potential to be sent back to jail or prison. That’s why, if you’ve been accused of violating your parole, it is so important that you speak with an experienced Tennessee criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

What Happens After I
Have Violated My Parole?

If you do violate your parole, going back to jail is not automatically the next step. First, a hearing will be conducted to determine how the parole was violated and what consequences will follow. Typically the process involves the following:

1. Arrest Warrant - Many times, the parole violation will automatically lead to an immediate warrant for your arrest. Once a warrant is out for your arrest, you will likely be picked up shortly by law enforcement and arrested.

2. Preliminary Hearing - Next, a parole violation hearing will be scheduled for the purposes of determining if there is probable cause to believe that you have violated one or more of the conditions of your release.

3. Written Report Given to Board - After the preliminary hearing, a written report will be given to the parole board by the hearing officer.

4. Board Ruling - The board will review the report and then decide whether they want to accept or override the hearing officer’s findings in the report.

5. Final Hearing - A final parole board hearing will then be scheduled to decide whether or not the parolee violated a parole condition. The hearing will also determine whether or not parole will be revoked. If so, then you may be sent back to jail or prison.

Possible Penalties

If you have violated parole, you could be subjected to a number of different consequences. Some of the most common penalties include:

1. Arrest - You can get arrested, as a warrant for your arrest typically goes out when your parole violation is first discovered.

2. Revocation - Your parole can be revoked, which will result in you getting sent back to jail.

3. Longer Parole - The board can choose to extend the amount of time you are on parole.

4. Criminal Charges - You can face criminal charges in addition to what you have already been convicted for before beginning parole.

5. Fines - The board could attempt to levy significant fines for your parole violation.