The following is a summary of the felony probation violation cases handled during the week of March 21-24, 2011. The Honorable H. William Constangy, Superior Court Judge presided.
One-hundred eighty-nine (189) defendants came before the court.
* 32 were scheduled for a probable cause hearing after a recent arrest for a probation violation.
* 41 had their hearing date continued after a motion by the State or Defendant
* 107 admitted violating probation
* 1 denied violating probation and had a hearing and were found in violation by the judge
* 16 were on for a review set by a previous judge, had an order for arrest issued for failing to appear, or fall within another miscellaneous category
* 23 had their probation terminated by the judge
* 39 were revoked from probation by the judge (if probation is revoked, the defendant is sent to prison to serve the previously suspended prison sentence)
* 46 were not revoked from probation by the judge; instead, they were continued on supervised probation under the same or additional conditions.
Notes about Probation Violations: Generally, felony probation violation cases are scheduled every other week in courtroom 5170; the cases are heard Monday through Thursday. Each Friday of these weeks the courtroom is used for felony guilty pleas or to hear Motions for Appropriate Relief (see N.C.G.S. 15A-1411 through -1422). In response to a felony probation violation, a defendant may admit or deny the violation(s). If the defendant admits the violation(s), the presiding judge determines whether to revoke the defendant’s probation and send him/her to prison, whether to continue the defendant on supervised probation under the same or additional terms, or whether to terminate (end) the supervision.
If a defendant denies the violation(s), a hearing is held in which the probation officer usually testifies. If the defendant is found by the judge to be in willful violation of his/her terms of probation, the judge will take one of the same actions described above. The DA’s Office does not have the power to dismiss, or negotiate the outcome of, a probation violation. A previous sentencing judge has issued an Order placing the defendant on probation and all violations of that term of probation are alleged by the probation officer and brought before a judge to determine whether a violation exist and, if so, what action should be taken against the defendant for the violation.
