What are Georgia Probation Conditions?

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I have received a lot of calls lately from people with questions about their probation sentences in Georgia. A lot of times people will take the option of probation after being convicted of DUI in Georgia. After that, they don't really understand what they are facing and the very realistic risk of a charge of Violation of Probation in Georgia. 

In today's post, I will focus on the different types of probation conditions. 

Georgia Probation Conditions

The first and most important thing to understand about probation is that it is not necessarily a "lighter" penalty. Probation means that you are serving and satisfying a jail or prison sentence outside of custody. 

That being said, each individual probation sentence is composed of different types of conditions. Below I have listed the two different categories of probation conditions.

General Conditions:

• Do not violate the laws of ANY governmental unit
• Avoid both injurious and vicious habits 
• Avoid disreputable or harmful persons or places
• Report to your probation officer as directed
• Permit your probation officer to visit you at home or elsewhere
• Work consistently at suitable employment
• Do not change your place of living
• Do not move outside the jurisdiction of the Court
• Do not leave the state of Georgia without prior permission of your probation officer
• Support your legal dependents to the best of your ability

Special Conditions:

• Attend risk reduction or DUI school
• Attend a defensive driving school
• Be evaluated for drugs/alcohol 
• Follow any treatment plan recommended after the evaluation
• Be evaluated for anger, violence, deviant behavior, or any other counseling
• Follow any treatment plan recommended after the evaluation
• Pay any fines or restitution ordered by probation
• Pay any fines or restitution ordered by the court
• Complete a certain number of community service hours
• Avoid contact with certain named people 
• Avoid entry to certain prohibited places
• Do not drink or take any drugs without prescription
• Submit to random drug and alcohol tests 

Practice Note

As a Georgia DUI Attorney, I receive calls from people who have violated their probations more often than I'd like. The reality is that with Probation Violations, the prosecution has a much easier time proving a violation than any other type of crime. The standard of proof changes in probation violation cases. It is now a preponderance of evidence standard instead of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you have violated your probation or have received a DUI charge, contact our offices today.