The difference between VIP and VOP is more than the letter of the law. One might get you on the red carpet, and the other will get you straight to lock-up. Violation of Probation does make you a Very Important Person for the police, maybe even in a sting operation. You’ll get a backstage pass to the jailhouse, have an opportunity to sign autographs, and there’ll be plenty of bars, but the wardrobe is a little sub-flattering.
The difference of being on probation and being on payroll is more than spelling also, though they’re not mutually exclusive. A person on probation can hold a job and be paid, be on payroll, even if that person is sporting an attractive anklet courtesy of the Department of Corrections.
There are two types of violation of probation: criminal and technical. A criminal violation is conviction of a new crime while on probation. A technical violation is behavior against the condition of probation, though the behavior may not necessarily be illegal, for instance entering a bar if the condition of probation to avoid businesses selling alcohol.
The Supreme Court may be on summer break, but that does not mean your probation officer isn’t paying attention. On probation, you have to watch your P’s and Q’s, and all the other letters too!
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