Court-Ordered Classes and Assessments in Arizona
A person convicted of a criminal offense in Arizona may find that all or part of their sentencing involves completing court-ordered classes or undergoing court-ordered assessments. This is an attempt to rehabilitate and respond to the offender as a whole rather than taking only the criminal charge into account when it comes to sentencing.
Court-ordered classes must be completed through a court-ordered agency, although some courts will accept voluntary masters level therapy on a case-by-case basis. Some courts also require offenders to undergo a counseling assessment to determine the total number of court-ordered classes they will need to complete. These assessments may be done through a counseling agency that is contracted by the court or they may be outsourced to other agencies.
Typically, offenders will be required to take between 16 and 32 hours of court-ordered classes and/or assessments. Courts do not pay for either of these. Instead, the offender must cover these costs, although some courts may allow for lower fees for those who have difficulty paying.
In some cases, court-ordered classes may be completed online through court-certified programs, but not all courts allow this.
It is never a good idea to fail to complete court-ordered classes or assessments. This can be charged as a probation violation and could even add additional fines or jail time to an offender’s sentence. In some situations, missing a class will cause an offender to be turned away from the rest of their classes. In this case, the court-ordered classes will need to be re-ordered through the court.
Court-ordered classes are diverse and include programs related to issues such as parent education, anger management, drug or alcohol awareness, civic responsibility, gambling addiction, impulse control, victim impact panels, and juvenile issues.
Having Rideout Law Group handle your case will give you peace of mind and ensure that you understand the guidelines and rules for the particular court that is handling your case, including making sure that:
- You register for court-ordered classes and/or assessments that are approved and accepted by the court.
- Your classes are properly re-ordered should you have any absences.
- You know whether or not your court handles online classes or counseling.
RIDEOUT LAW GROUP
With offices in Lake Havasu City and Scottsdale, our firm serves the entire state of Arizona, with a particular focus on criminal defense, family law, and juvenile cases.
Our goal is for the best outcome for your criminal case, which can include:
- charges that are reduced or dropped.
- top experts reviewing your case.
- aggressive negotiations with the prosecution for plea bargains.
- fines or probation in lieu of jail time.
At Rideout Law Group, our attorneys are able to expertly examine the evidence in your case to provide a strong strategy for argument that leads to an outcome that is most favorable to you. We have experience in all types of criminal cases for both adults and juveniles, with positive outcomes both in plea negotiations as well as jury trial settings.
Call us today for a free consultation at 480-584-3328.