HELP, please!! I just received a letter from the Clerk of Courts stating that I am in violation of probation and there is a warrant for my arrest. They also returned my money order for payment of fines. Apparently, I did not pay the fines by the deadline. I have contacted my attorney, however, I cannot afford him. He charges $2000.00 to defend me for violation of probation. I have complied with every other aspect of probation. BTW - I got DUIs in Nov/Dec of 2005. I did 10 days in the county jail, completed my alcohol counseling, completed DUI school, etc. What do I do? Should I call my Probation Officer? Should I turn myself in? HELP

Yes turn yourself into your PO. Depending on the jurisdiuction they can come down hard on event the slightest violation. Your best option is to turn yourself in before they catch you.

What is typically the penalty for this? I am so scared, I have never been in any trouble before this.

What is typically the penalty for this? I am so scared, I have never been in any trouble before this.Hello j:

You're scared?? Bummer. You're not going to get any sympathy from me. After all, I drive on those roads where you're driving drunk. I'd have more sympathy for you if you were a crook, or a drug dealer. Those people don't threaten my family.

You're also not going to get any sympathy from me, because they're going to make you spend a few days in jail. Nope - not from a guy who's spent years in jail.

You say you're scared. Were you scared when you didn't send your money in on time? Were you scared when you got in the car to drive drunk - TWICE? Nope, you're only scared now. Interesting...

Ok, I'll get off your case. But you have little to whine about.

excon

The penalty for probation violation really depends on several factors. I do agree with excon, that the time to be scared was before you got in trouble.

Now, you have to take your medicine.

Yes, NOW is the time to go and turn yourself in to your probation officer, that will go along way with the probation officer telling the judge to give you another chance.

If you wait and get caught speeding and they drag you from the car, with guns drawn and have you lay on the road to get cuffed.

I would say turing yourself in would be the best option.