Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee Criminal lawyers understand that any time you receive punishment from a court; you will have questions about its terms and conditions. The judge often uses legal terminology that only lawyers and individuals intimately involved with the court system can understand. One question that is asked with regularity about punishment is the difference between probation and parole.

Probation is a criminal sentence. In Tennessee, first-time offenders are usually considered for probation. The length of probation and its terms are given at sentencing. Once the person has completed the terms of probation, he or she is free of court supervision. A person’s chances for probation increase significantly if his or her offense was not violent. Someone given probation is usually given a jail sentence that gets suspended or reduced as long as the person follows the conditions of probation. The most common conditions of probation require the individual to keep in touch with a probation officer, work or look for work, go to school, and stay off drugs. Other terms may include going to alcohol or drug-abuse treatment programs, taking drug tests, or attending various educational classes related to the offense committed.

Parole is a way of completing a criminal sentence of incarceration. Typically, the individual has been sentenced to a range of years in prison. After the offender has served the minimum amount of time authorized, the parole board meets to decide if the person is ready to be released from incarceration. This allows the offender to finish out the remainder of his or her sentence outside of prison. Parole boards examine numerous factors in the decision whether to release someone from incarceration. They consider the crime committed, the victim’s perspective, the offender’s progress in prison, whether the prison is crowded, and whether the offender has somewhere to go if indeed released. If parole is satisfactorily completed, the remaining portion of the criminal sentence is discharged.

Both probation and parole may be revoked if the offender seriously violates the terms or conditions. Whatever you are charged with, a Tennessee criminal attorney can help explain in full detail the criminal process. Being charged with a crime is a confusing and frustrating time. We are here to help by serving the Knoxville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg area.