Hi. I plead guilty to a minor crime that i wont even talk about here because I didn't do it and my attorney s***ed. The judge gave me a fine and told me I had to do community service. I just wanted to get out of there so didn't really pay attention to the whole thing. I'm thinking that the courts are way too busy to keep track of any one defendant and whether they did the fine or community service. What do you think.
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The Editor, Mark Bernardin, is an attorney living in MA. Please send your suggestions or comments to: TheEditor@malawforum.com
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Failure to pay fine or perform community service
I think you should call your attorney or the court clerk, find out exactly what you are supposed to do in terms of fines and community service, and pay it and/or do it. The judge in your case likely issued an order that provided a certain amount of time for the service to be completed or the fine to be paid. If you do not live up to your end of the bargain, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Additionally, the court may increase the amount of the fine you owe. My understanding is that most judges in Massachusetts will give you a second chance to live up to your obligations, but if you still refuse you could end up in jail. For fines, some judges give the defendant jail time based on the amount of the fine. In other words, the judge may say: "You will spend one day in jail for every $30 you owe." You know how much your fine is, so I'll let you do the math. Good luck.