Violation of Probation in Polk County, FL

According to the glossary of commonly used terms in the criminal justice system on the website for the County Clerk in Polk County, the term “probation” is defined as:

“An alternative to imprisonment allowing a person found guilty of an offense to stay in the community, usually under conditions and under the supervision of a probation officer. A violation of probation can lead to its revocation and to imprisonment.”

The special conditions of probation for cases at the courthouse in Bartow or Winter Haven, FL, in Polk County can include the following requirements:

  • undergo an alcohol abuse evaluation and complete recommended follow up treatment;
  • submit to an evaluation for mental health treatment;
  • complete classes for shoplifting counseling or employment services;
  • pay restitution, fines, court costs, cost of investigation, cost of supervision, and cost of prosecution;
  • perform a certain number of community service hours at a certain rate per month.

The probation officer in Polk County is required to check that all special conditions are completed within the allotted time. If the special conditions are not completed, or if the probationer otherwise violates any of the terms of probation, then the probation officer will submit an affidavit for the probation violation to the court.

The court can then issue a warrant for a violation of probation based on the affidavit submitted by the probation officer or other documents. If you are accused of violating probation in either a felony or misdemeanor case, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you.

Attorney for Violation of Probation Cases in Polk County, FL

If you believe that your probation officer is going to submit paperwork to the judge alleging that you violated the conditions of your probation then call us today. The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm are experienced in representing clients in VOP hearings at the courthouse in Bartow and Winter Haven, FL, in Polk County, FL.

We help clients who are on felony, misdemeanor, or juvenile probation in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Haines City, or Lakeland.

Find out what you might need to do right now to protect yourself against these serious allegations and, if possible, come into compliance with all special conditions of probation as soon as possible.

Call (813) 250-0500.


Misdemeanor Polk County Probation Office

The Polk County Probation office provides services for individuals sentenced to probation for misdemeanor cases from the county criminal courts. The probation officers and staff monitor the individuals placed on probation for both misdemeanor charges and criminal traffic charges.

Misdemeanor charges can include charges such as petit theft, battery, domestic violence, or trespass. Criminal traffic charges can include driving under the influence (“DUI”), reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident or crash.

In some cases, the individual is originally arrested for a felony, however, the charges are ultimately reduced to a misdemeanor and resolved in Court Court instead of Circuit Court. If the case was resolved in county court for probation, then the case is classified as a misdemeanor VOP case.

After the court sentences you to probation, you will be given instructions on how to report to the misdemeanor probation office in Polk County, FL. The judge might ask you to call the office to set an appointment or the judge might ask you to immediately report in person.

The misdemeanor probation office in Polk County, FL, is located at:

Misdemeanor Probation Office
1745 or 1755 US 17 South
P.O. Box 9000, Drawer CJ
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: 863-780-5346 Extention 4125 or 4617
Phone: 863-534-4125 or 863-534-4617

If you are in custody, you must report by 9:00 a.m. no later than the following business day after your release from jail. The office hours for processing are at the probation office are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Monday through Friday.

Failure to report as instructed is a violation of the Order of the Court and/or the terms of probation as outlined in the Florida Statutes 948.03 and 948.06. If you fail to report to probation, then the probation officer might file a violation of probation affidavit and request that the court issue a no bond warrant for your arrest.

Directions to the Bartow Probation Office: After leaving the courthouse, go south on Broadway Avenue to Main Street and turn left, heading east for 0.9 miles. Turn right on US 17 (Spessard Holland Parkway), heading south for 1.5 miles. The probation office building will be on the right, just south of Clower Street and across from the Polk County Extension Services. Parking is located on the west side of the building, accessible from the front-drive or off Pinehurst Street and Banana Avenue.


The Electronic Monitoring Program in Polk County, FL

The probation office also maintains the electronic monitoring program for the judges in County Court, Circuit Court, and Juvenile Court. The judges can require electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration or detention at sentencing.

In this program, employees with the probation office allow the person sentenced to use a Global Positioning System (GPS) monitor. The person’s movements are then restricted to work, home, school, or other pre-approved locations. Compliance is determined with the help of the Electronic Monitoring Officer.

The GPS program is paid for by the person supervised who is required to pay supervision fees.


Polk County’s DUI Drug Court Probation Program

Polk County’s DUI Drug Court probation program provides supervision of approximately 100 men and women referred into the program by the judge in DUI Court. Participants undergo the following:

  • on-going judicial supervision and required court appearances;
  • intensive community supervision,
  • alcohol and drug treatment;
  • random alcohol and drug screening and testing; and
  • community involvement.

The probation officer for the Polk County program supervises the individual to make sure they complete the standard and special conditions of probation in a timely manner.


Contact Information for Probation in Polk County, FL

Polk County Probation Office
1745 US 17 South
P.O. Box 9000, Drawer CJ
Bartow, FL 33831-9000
Phone (863) 534-4125
Fax (863) 534-2140
Toll free (800) 780-5346 Ext. 4125
 
Lakeland Polk County Government Center
930 E. Parker St., Room 292
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone (863) 603-6670
Fax (863) 284-4241
 
Winter Haven/Haines City
Northeast Polk County Government Center
3425 Lake Alfred Road #6
Gil Jones Plaza
Winter Haven, FL 33881-1405
Phone: (863) 401-2410
Fax: (863) 401-2417

Felony Probation with the Department of Corrections in Polk County

The Lakeland Circuit office of the Department of Corrections provides services in Polk County, FL. As of June 30, 2012, the office had more than 7,000 individuals on probation. It provides community-based programs including substance abuse, mental health, and sex offender treatment programs.

The probation officers with the Department of Corrections supervise men and women sentenced to probation in felony cases. In a few cases, the Department of Corrections might also supervise someone sentenced to misdemeanor charges if the charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor and resolved in the Circuit Court. In addition to individuals sentenced to probation in court, the probation office also supervises individuals released from prison with post-release supervision requirements.

The probation officers make sure the individual complies with all special conditions of probation and has not new law violations. Probation officers provide self-help classes such as Thinking for a Change or Moral Recognition Therapy Cognitive Behavior classes, How to Make it on Probation or Community Control, Life Skills, Employment Interviewing and Application Skills classes.

If you violate felony probation in Polk County, FL, and then leave the state, you can be detained in another state on the felony VOP warrant and brought back to Polk County.

Extradition to Polk County, FL, is the process of bringing someone out of state back to the county on a felony arrest warrant. Many extradition cases involve a violation of probation warrant.

Contact Information for the Probation Offices in Polk County

Offices 100 – BARTOW MAIN / INTAKE Probation Office
970 East Main Street
Bartow, Florida 33830-4905
(863) 534-7010
Fax: (863) 534-7247
 
Office 101 – LAKELAND NORTH Probation
200 North Kentucky Avenue Suite 506
Lakeland, Florida 33801-4978
(863) 413-2242
 
Office 106 – LAKELAND SOUTH Probation
970 E. Main Street, Suite B
Bartow, Florida 33830
(863) 534-7010
 
Office 102 – WINTER HAVEN Probation
1289 First Street South
102 – Winter Haven, Florida 33880
(863) 298-5570
 
Office 103 – LAKE WALES
608 State Road 60
Lake Wales, Florida
33853-4419
(863) 679-4366
 
Office 107 – HAINES CITY
233 North 9th Street
Haines City, Florida 33844
(863) 419-3344

This article was last updated on Friday, May 11, 2018.