Tacoma Probation Violation Lawyers Defend Your Freedom

What happens if I violate my probation in Washington State?

With experience in municipal, district, superior and federal courts in Pierce and King County and throughout Western Washington State, the criminal defense law practice at The Woods Law Office, PLLC can help you if you have been arrested for a probation violation or scheduled for a review hearing on your probation. Doug Woods is a former prosecutor with vast experience in Tacoma parole violations and probation violations.

The consequences of a probation violation vary with the nature of the violation, but may include a jail sentence, steep fines or additional probation time. Because probation was given in exchange for prison term, you risk losing your freedom because of a mistake. Criminal lawyer Doug Woods fights to help you preserve the terms of your probation and minimize any new or additional penalties.

What is probation?

A sentencing judge sometimes imposes probation instead of sending a person to jail, and sometimes it is imposed in addition to a period of imprisonment. In exchange for being allowed freedom from incarceration, the “probationer” agrees to comply with a number of standard conditions of probation and, depending upon the case, may also have to abide by special conditions. Probation can be for a few months or several years.

While on probation, the probationer is supervised by a probation officer/agent. The officer’s job is to make sure that the probationer does the things the probationer promised he or she would do in order to stay out of jail. When the probationer breaks the terms, the probation officer must notify the court. The sentencing judge then decides what, if any, penalties may be imposed.

Penalties for probation violation

If a probationer commits a crime, the result is often a jail sentence. In cases where the violation is the result of something simple such as not following up on paying restitution, failing to complete drug treatment or counseling or missing a meeting with a probation officer, it may be handled with a minor sanction.

It is, of course, in your best interest to pay close attention to and follow the terms of your probation to the letter. If you have been arrested for a probation violation or have been notified that a probation violation review hearing has been scheduled, call Tacoma criminal defense attorney Doug Woods immediately for a free consultation.

Contact our Tacoma parole violations lawyer to learn more about your options

Don’t risk your probation by waiting too long to get skilled legal representation. To schedule your free and confidential consultation with attorney Doug Woods, please call The Woods Law Office, PLLC at contact us online. We can arrange to meet you on weekends or evenings. Flexible, affordable payment terms are available.

Tacoma Violent Crimes Attorneys On Your Side

Experienced assault and battery lawyers in Pierce County, Washington
The FBI defines violent crime as an offense that involves force or the threat of force, and breaks it down into four main areas. The most common of these is aggravated assault, but violent crimes also include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape and robbery.

Although usually linked, assault and battery involve two actions: assault is the threat of violence, and battery is the actual violence. In other words, raising a fist is the assault; actually punching somebody in the jaw is the battery.

At The Woods Law Office, PLLC, we have helped hundreds of clients throughout Pierce County and King County facing violent crimes charges. Doug Woods is a trial-tested Tacoma violent crimes attorney and former prosecutor with the skill and knowledge to help you when you are facing these serious charges.

Assault laws in Washington State

If you are charged with an assault crime, contact a felony attorney as soon as possible. The police and the prosecution start building a case against you immediately. We want to be able to counter their strategy right from the beginning, too, for charges including:

Assault in the First Degree — Intentionally inflicting great bodily harm with a firearm or deadly weapon or any force likely to produce great bodily harm or death is Assault in the First Degree.

Assault in the Second Degree — This offense includes intentionally assaulting another and recklessly inflicting substantial bodily harm, assaulting another with a deadly weapon, assaulting a pregnant woman and intentionally harming the child, assaulting by poison or strangulation, assaulting another with the intent to commit a felony, and causing pain or agony that is the equivalent of torture.

Assault in the Third Degree — This crime includes assaults on particular persons, such as bus drivers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and doctors or nurses while performing their duties. Causing bodily harm accompanied by substantial pain that causes considerable suffering may also be Assault in the Third Degree.

Assault in the Fourth Degree — An assault that does not amount to Assault in the First, Second or Third Degree or Custodial Assault is Assault in the Fourth Degree.

Although Assault in the Fourth Degree is a misdemeanor, it is no less important that you contact Tacoma assault attorney Doug Woods as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Schedule a free consultation with Tacoma violent crimes lawyer Douglas Woods

You do not have to nor should you speak to the police or investigators without an attorney present. Any statement you make, regardless of how innocent you think the statement is, can and will be used against you in court by a skilled prosecutor. To schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal options and protect your rights, contact us online . Weekend and evening appointments are available. We also offer affordable payment plans.

Pending Investigations in Washington State

How pending investigations are handled in Pierce County and throughout the Puget Sound area

Criminal defense lawyers assist people who have been contacted by police for questioning. Whether you are the target of an investigation or simply being sought out by police as a source of information, the criminal defense attorney has two roles: first, to manage the contact with the authorities to make certain that the client’s rights are protected, and second, to insure appropriate compliance with the investigation is maintained. If you are contacted by police, we recommend that you do not speak to investigators until you first speak to a Tacoma criminal defense attorney.

As a former prosecutor who has conducted investigations of criminal suspects in all manner of felony and misdemeanor cases in the City of Auburn and Thurston County, criminal defense attorney Douglas N. Woods of The Woods Law Office, PLLC understands how to handle a pending investigation, placing his client in the best possible position even before charges are filed.

Why police investigate

Unless the police actually witness a criminal act, such as observing a robbery in progress or stopping someone for speeding and finding drugs in the car, there is likely to be some sort of investigation before any charges are filed. Even after an arrest is made, the police and prosecution rarely have all the evidence they need to go to court and convict you — and so they continue to try to collect evidence. They do this by interviewing others, conducting searches and interrogating the suspect — you.

A common police or prosecutorial tactic is to appear as though they are helping you out. At the pre-arrest stage, they may want to ask you questions “to help them in their investigation” or simply “to rule you out as a suspect.” After you are arrested, they may tell you that if you cooperate, they will put in a good word for you with the DA or the judge. The truth is that the police already suspect you, and all they are trying to do is gather evidence to use against you. It is rarely in your best interests to submit to police questioning, and it is almost never a good idea to do this without getting advice from your Tacoma criminal defense attorney first.

Seek experienced legal representation

If your case is pending, we may be able to prevent charges from being filed or influence what charges do get filed. If you have been approached by the police for questioning or are involved in a criminal investigation in Tacoma or anywhere in Western Washington, contact us online to schedule a free consultation.