Criminal Defense Blog
A change to California’s laws in 2020 regarding probation has just made life under probation a little less stressful.
Failure to pay court-ordered fines, fees, or assessments used to mean that you automatically would have your probation revoked, and that you were headed to jail or prison. Starting this year, AB 1421 changes that for those who are unable to pay those fines and fees. It is no longer a violation of the terms of your probation if you have no ability to pay those amounts. This change to the law in 2020 adds to an already existing law that prohibits your re-arrest or incarceration for the failure to pay court-ordered restitution to the victim of your crime when you are unable to make the payment.
However, there is one important aspect of this law that anyone on probation should know: If you have the ability to pay, and you willfully fail to do so, your probation can be revoked, and you can be imprisoned. If you miss your payments because you cannot afford them, you must be prepared to prove that to the court.
Life on probation is not as easy as most people think, and the repayment of court-ordered fines, fees, restitution, and assessments can be extremely difficult when your record can make it difficult to find a job. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have more than 40 years of experience helping people in your situation manage the burdens of life on probation, including helping you fight to stay free if you are unable to pay those fines. Let us help you today.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, West Covina, Torrance, and Victorville, there is an experienced and skilled Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney available to help you no matter where you are located.
Contact our offices today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free, no-obligation phone consultation. We will get through this together.
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