Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
A probation or parole violation in Maryland can send you back to prison for the full original sentence — even for a minor or accidental breach. For nearly 40 years, Allan Rombro has successfully recalled VOP warrants and won VOP hearings across Maryland.
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If you are currently on probation or parole, many circumstances can result in a Violation of Probation or Violation of Parole (VOP) charge — and you can be re-arrested and detained even if the alleged violation is not your fault. Probation officers sometimes make mistakes, and being charged with or having your case reopened for a suspected violation is enough to have a warrant issued against you.
If you get arrested on a new charge while on probation or parole, this can trigger a VOP warrant even if the underlying charge is ultimately dropped or dismissed. A DUI or DWI in any state will usually trigger a violation of Maryland parole or probation — and these situations often involve deadlines requiring immediate action.
For nearly 40 years, Allan Rombro has been successfully recalling VOP warrants and winning VOP hearings for his clients, allowing them to remain on probation or parole without returning to jail or having the original sentence imposed. He represents people facing re-arrest and revocation of parole or probation, and can help you maintain the terms of your supervision.
Are you constantly looking over your shoulder? Do not wait — call the VOP Hotline at 410-580-9500 any time, day or night.
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Being arrested for any new offense while on probation or parole — even if the charge is later dropped — can trigger a VOP warrant. The underlying new case and the VOP proceed on separate tracks simultaneously.
Most Common Trigger
A DUI or DWI — in Maryland or in any other state — will almost always trigger a violation of Maryland parole or probation. These situations often require immediate action with strict deadlines. Call Allan Rombro the same day.
Triggers Immediate Action
Failing to maintain required contact with your probation or parole officer is one of the most common — and avoidable — violations. Missing even one scheduled check-in can result in a violation report being filed against you.
Changing your address without prior notification and approval from your agent is a technical violation. This catches many people by surprise — supervision requires advance approval for any change of residence.
Failing to comply with a probation officer's directives — including finding employment, obtaining a GED, completing drug treatment, remaining in school, or staying in a specific area — can all trigger a technical violation.
Serious traffic offenses — including driving on a suspended, revoked, or uninsured license — can trigger a probation or parole violation on top of the traffic charge itself. Even minor traffic matters can have probation consequences.
A positive drug or alcohol test — or a refusal to test — is a standard basis for a violation report. Depending on your original conditions and prior history on supervision, this can lead to immediate arrest and detention.
Probation officers sometimes file violations based on incomplete information, miscommunication, or error. If your officer makes a mistake, this can result in an arrest warrant even if you have done nothing wrong. Allan Rombro will challenge the basis of the alleged violation.
A VOP warrant puts you at risk of arrest at any moment — at home, at work, or during a traffic stop. Allan Rombro's first priority is getting the warrant recalled quickly and securing a new court date, putting you back in control of your case without the risk of sudden detention.
Not every violation report is accurate. If your probation officer made a mistake — incorrect dates, miscommunication, incomplete records — Allan Rombro will identify it and challenge the basis of the alleged violation directly. A VOP warrant can be fought even before the hearing.
If your VOP was triggered by a new arrest, the two cases are connected. Successfully defending the underlying new charge — or having it reduced or dismissed — can significantly undermine the VOP and preserve your probation status. Allan handles both cases simultaneously.
VOP hearings are decided by a judge, not a jury, and require a completely different strategy than trial. Allan Rombro understands how to present your case — your compliance, your circumstances, mitigating factors — in a way that persuades the judge to reinstate probation rather than impose the suspended sentence.
In many cases, the best outcome is not just avoiding revocation but improving your supervision terms. Allan Rombro can petition to modify probation — converting from supervised to unsupervised, allowing travel, adjusting contact requirements — giving you greater freedom to maintain employment and family stability.
VOP cases move fast. You will work directly with Allan Rombro from the moment you call — not a paralegal, not a secretary. He is available on weekends and evenings for VOP emergencies and responds personally to every case, understanding that your freedom is at stake.
A Maryland violation of probation hearing looks very different from the criminal trial that led to your original sentence. Many people underestimate this hearing — and end up in jail as a result.
There is no jury. The original sentencing judge presides. The State’s witness is typically your probation officer, who presents the case file and testifies about the alleged violation. The rules of evidence are applied informally. The State only needs to prove the violation by a preponderance of the evidence — more likely than not — not beyond a reasonable doubt. You can admit or deny the violation, testify, present witnesses, and cross-examine the State’s witnesses. If a violation is found, the judge sentences immediately. There is no separate sentencing date.
Have a question not answered here? Email Allan Rombro directly for a free, confidential consultation — available 24 hours.
Yes. A VOP warrant can be issued based solely on your probation officer’s report — even if that report is inaccurate. Being charged with or having your case reopened for a suspected violation is enough to have a warrant issued against you. An experienced attorney can challenge the basis of the alleged violation and fight to have the warrant recalled and the VOP dismissed.
At a VOP hearing, a judge reviews the alleged violation and the state’s evidence. There is no jury. The state only needs to prove the violation by a preponderance of the evidence — more likely than not — which is a lower bar than a criminal trial. The judge can find no violation, reinstate probation with modified conditions, or impose the original suspended sentence. Preparation and experienced representation are critical.
Yes. A DUI or DWI in any state will almost always trigger a violation of Maryland parole or probation. This is one of the most common ways clients find themselves facing a VOP unexpectedly. There are often time-sensitive steps that must be taken immediately after an out-of-state DUI to protect your Maryland probation status. Call Allan Rombro as soon as possible.
A technical violation occurs when you fail to comply with a supervision condition — missed meetings, failed drug tests, moving without approval — without committing a new crime. Maryland now caps sentences for technical violations at 15 days for a first offense, scaling up to the full suspended time for a fourth offense. A new charge violation, triggered by a new arrest, carries no such cap — the judge can impose the full original sentence.
Yes. At a VOP hearing, the judge has wide discretion — the options are not just revocation or reinstatement. Allan Rombro can advocate for modified supervision conditions, conversion from supervised to unsupervised probation, additional treatment programs as an alternative to jail, or early termination of probation when circumstances warrant. A good outcome is not always just “no jail” — it can mean significantly better terms going forward.
The sooner you act, the stronger your defense. Free consultation, available 24 hours.
Speak directly with Allan Rombro. Available 24 hours.
🔒 Confidential & no obligation. Your information is never shared.