What is a probation violation?
A probation violation occurs when a criminal defendant who is on probation has committed some act which violates his or her terms of probation. The terms of probation often vary from defendant to defendant, but generally include basic terms that apply to all defendants. For example, one common probation term frequently applied to all criminal defendants is to “remain a law abiding citizen.” This means that if a probationer is arrested for any reason, even a charge that is later dismissed, he or she may have technically violated the terms of probation. It’s important to note that a conviction is not required to violate this specific term. A mere arrest may be sufficient.