Legal Question in Criminal Law in Wisconsin

Re: Hearsay in Probation Revocation Hearings

The short answers to your questions are "yes" and "yes." Probation and parole officers have godlike powers over probationers and parolees and can indeed send them to prison for minor infractions. Although confrontation rights exist at probation hearings, they are more limited than they are at a trial prior to probation. All allegations forming the basis for a revocation attempt must generally be made known to the probationer during a revocation hearing. A good lawyer, however, can often come up with alternatives to revocation short of imprisonment such as drug and alcohol treatment, halfway houses, or other forms of counseling and present them at the revocation hearing. Technical legal attacks against the revocation charges can also sometimes succeed. Good luck!