PTR: What Is a Petition to Revoke

You plead guilty and sentenced to supervision or probation. While on term, you are prohibited from taking any controlled substances and are required to submit to random drug testing. You were notified by your probation officer you tested positive. Your probation officer sends your case back to court to inform the judge of the violation. The prosecutor files a Petition to Revoke.

Now What Happens?

The prosecutor is going to file a petition to revoke your sentence, otherwise known as a PTR. A petition to revoke is not limited to positive drug tests. There are a number of reasons which would allow a prosecutor to file a PTR. The petition to revoke is a method the State will use to try to resentence you to a harsher sentence then was initially imposed. Most people don’t think they need a lawyer in petition to revoke statue, because they already pled guilty. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The State will try and resentence you at the first sign of a slip up. You are eligible to be resentenced up to the maximum sentence of the crime you originally plead guilty to. Unlike a trial which needs to be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt”, in a Petition to Revoke hearing, evidence of a violation of sentence only needs to be proven “by the preponderance of the evidence” which is a much lower burden.

Speak to an attorney at Lafata Law about getting back on track and working to keep the sentence originally imposed without being resentenced. Contact our attorneys at 630-481-6633 to determine how to successfully resolve your PTR.