What are the “terms of probation” in a Nevada criminal case?

In Nevada criminal cases, the terms of probation are a set of rules and conditions that a defendant is legally required to adhere to while serving a probationary sentence. Violating a term of probation can cause the judge to impose the underlying jail or prison sentence.

What are probation terms in Nevada?

People who get convicted of a crime in Nevada may be able to avoid jail or prison by going on probation instead. There are various possible terms of probation, including:

• abiding by a curfew, such as staying home between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.,
• wearing an electronic monitoring device,
• submitting to home confinement (house arrest),
• wearing a SCRAM alcohol detection bracelet,
• not contacting the victim(s),
• avoiding certain locations, such as the victim’s home and place of work,
• checking in regularly with a probation officer,
• abstaining from drugs and alcohol,
• going to a drug or alcohol rehab program, such as AA or NA,
• going to anger management and/or impulse control classes,
• going to counseling (individual and/or group),
• doing community service,
• staying gainfully employed,
• showing up to mandatory court appearances,
• submitting to random drug and alcohol testing (blood, breath, or urine tests),
• submitting to warrantless searches and seizures by law enforcement,
• paying fines,
• paying restitution to the victim(s), and/or
• not getting into any more trouble with the law (there is usually an exception for minor traffic tickets)

Depending on the case, probation can last up to five (5) years. If the defendant succeeds in following all the terms of probation, then the defendant can remain out of jail/prison. But if the defendant slips up, the original jail/prison sentence can be imposed.¹

What are probation violation hearings?

When probationers are taken into custody for violating Nevada probation rules, they are entitled to a Nevada probation revocation hearing. Probation revocation hearings look like trials, but the prosecution does not have to prove that the defendant violated probation beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, the prosecutor needs only to “reasonably satisfy” the court that the defendant broke the terms of probation.

Therefore, defendants who are lucky enough to get out on probation are advised to “wear a halo” and be extremely careful not to do anything that could be misinterpreted as a probation violation. Since the burden of proof to prove a probation violation is so low, there is a good chance that probationers who did nothing wrong could be sent to jail/prison.

So for example, probationers ordered to avoid alcohol should go out of their way not to shop at places that sell alcohol or walk by bars. Probationers ordered to avoid contact with the victim should block the victim’s numbers on their phone.

And probationers ordered to be home by 9 p.m. should make sure to be home well before then: The probation officer does not care if a traffic accident on the road beyond the probationer’s control is the cause of lateness.

Note that courts may not revoke probation because of the following violations by themselves:

Can I get early termination of probation?

Depending on the case, probationers may be eligible for early termination of probation in Nevada. In some cases, the Probation Board is required to recommend early termination to the court.

Otherwise, the defense attorney can file a motion asking the court to end the probation before schedule, and the judge would hold a hearing on the matter. Judges will likely deny the motion if the probationer has ever violated a term of probation and has not paid any fines and restitution in full.³

See our related articles: Parole and Probation in Las Vegas – What’s the difference? and Misdemeanor probation in Nevada – 3 key things to know.