Hi.

About 3 years ago, my nephew was charged with firing a gun into a dwelling. No one was hurt, no bullet was found, but there was a damaged shutter. Also, there was a witness who claimed to see him do it. It was a first offense. The judge sentenced him to 20 years of probation. Personally, I've never heard of a 20 year probation, but there you go. He also has a curfew from 7pm to 7am. The incident happened when he was 18. He is now 22.

I am wondering how long he can expect to wait before he should start trying to get his curfew removed, or, at the very least, reduced. I realize that he will need to talk to a lawyer, and that there's no way to say for sure... but if someone could just give me a ballpark figure.

Also, I would assume that most 20 year probations are probably shortened by a few years (if the person behaved well and didn't violate probation or get into any more trouble). Does that sound like a reasonable assumption? If not, then he'll be on probation until he's about 40.

Thanks.

That does seem extreme because people do change a lot between 18 and even 30 yrs old.
And many out and out criminals get shorter jail sentences than that for much worse offenses. I think he should go and see what he can do to get it shortened or removed.

I agree 20 probation is insane. Your state must take that charge very seriously or something else must of happened. Maybe they normally give out a good amt of jail time for that charge. Your nephew should speak to a lawyer and see if he on probation w. out any problems what chance does he have to get off early or remove the curfew.