What Happens After My Case Is Over?

Probation - Your sentence may include sanctions discussed above, including, but not limited to, community service hours, fines, court costs, self-improvement classes, substance abuse and/or psychological evaluations and recommended treatment. These sanctions can be made special conditions of successful completion of your term of probation. While on probation, you may be required to meet with a probation officer on a weekly or monthly basis, be restricted in your ability to travel, consume alcoholic beverages, frequent establishments that serve alcohol, and submit/or to random drug testing.You may also be required to provide proof of your full-time school enrollment or employment.

Violation Of Probation - Should you fail to complete the requirements of your probation or commit a new law violation while on probation, your probation officer may file with the Court a violation of probation report. Such a report may result in the judge issuing a warrant for violation of probation (VOP). A violation of probation acts as a new crime for which you can be arrested and held without bond.

Appeals -At the completion of your case, as part of imposing a sentence, the Judge will advise you of your right to appeal your case. Should you be convicted following trial,  you would be entitled to appeal any mistakes of law made during the trial. In the case of a conviction at trial or entry of a plea of guilty or no contest, you may appeal any unlawful sentence, that is, a sentence which departs from the sentencing guidelines. Any appeal of your sentence must be filed within thirty days by an attorney qualified to handle an appeal for you.

Modification Of Sentence - Should circumstances arise following your sentencing which create a hardship or impossibility to complete the sentence, you may ask the court to modify your sentence, so long as this request is made to the court in writing within sixty days of entry of the sentence.

Record Sealing/Expungement - At the conclusion of your case, you may qualify to have your criminal record sealed or expunged if you obtained a not guilty verdict, withhold of adjudication, nolle prosequi (dismissal), or a no information notice. The effect of a records sealing/expungement would be to clear your record of any reference to the crime for which you were arrested. Obtaining a records sealing/expungement requires that a petition be filed with the court which originally handled your case. That Judge in his/her discretion may grant your request to have all references to your charge be removed from the public record. As a result of a sealing/expungement, you would be entitled to deny on job and/or school applications the existence of the charge.