What is the difference between a deferred adjudication and a regular probation?
With a deferred adjudication you enter your plea of guilty or no contest, but the Judge withholds a finding of guilt and places you on probation. If you successfully complete the deferred adjudication probation, your case will be dismissed and you will avoid conviction for the offense. If you avoid conviction you may be entitled to have you your records sealed, but not expunged, in the future. If you fail to comply with the terms of probation a “Motion to Adjudicate” will be filed and at that point the Judge can enter a finding of Guilty. If that occurs you will have a conviction on your record. With regular or “straight” probation, you enter your plea of guilty or no contest, the Judge finds you Guilty, and you are placed on probation. Successful completion of probation will allow you to avoid additional jail time, but from the moment of your plea you are convicted of the offense. You are never entitled to have your records sealed or to have your record expunged. This is so because yo
