Track violations, enforce case compliance, and trigger follow-up workflows to keep your agency's supervision programs on track.

### Overview

- **What it is:** The **Violations** module lets you create, categorize, and manage violation records linked to clients, cases, and events, complete with severity levels, statutes, penalties, and automated follow-up actions.
- **Why it matters:** Consistent violation tracking ensures fair enforcement, supports court documentation, and gives your agency data to identify compliance trends before they become systemic problems.
- **Who uses it:** Supervision officers, case managers, compliance teams, and agency administrators.
- **Expected outcomes:** A structured, auditable record of every violation, automated notifications to stakeholders, and data-driven insight into compliance patterns.

### Prerequisites

- An active eCourtDate account with supervision or admin permissions
- Clients and cases already created in the system
- Violation categories and severity levels configured in **Settings** (if customization is needed)

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Access the Violations Page

1. Click **Violations** in the main navigation.
2. The violations list displays all recorded violations with their status, severity, and linked client.

#### Step 2: Create a New Violation Record

1. Click **Create Violation**.
2. Select the **Client** associated with the violation.
3. Select the **Case** or **Event** linked to this violation.
4. Choose the **Category** (for example, missed appearance, failed drug test, curfew violation).
5. Select the **Severity** level (low, medium, high, critical).
6. Enter the relevant **Statute** or code reference if applicable.
7. Add a detailed description of the violation in the **Notes** field.
8. Click **Save**.

#### Step 3: Configure Penalties

1. Open the violation record you just created.
2. Click **Add Penalty** in the penalties section.
3. Select the penalty type (warning, fine, community service, revocation, or other).
4. Enter penalty details such as amount, duration, or conditions.
5. Click **Save**. The penalty is now linked to the violation.

#### Step 4: Trigger Notifications

1. Within the violation record, click **Notify**.
2. Select the recipients: assigned supervisor, case manager, client, legal counsel, or other stakeholders.
3. Choose the notification method (email, SMS, or in-app).
4. Click **Send**. Recipients receive an alert with violation details.

#### Step 5: Launch a Follow-up Workflow

1. In the violation detail view, click **Create Workflow**.
2. Select a workflow template (for example, "Violation Response" or "Compliance Review").
3. Configure any workflow-specific settings such as deadlines or required actions.
4. Click **Start Workflow**. The system creates tasks and notifications according to the template.

#### Step 6: Monitor Compliance Trends

1. Navigate to **Violations** and click the **Reports** or **Analytics** tab.
2. Filter by date range, client, category, or severity.
3. Review charts and summaries showing violation frequency, resolution rates, and common categories.
4. Use this data to adjust supervision strategies and resource allocation.

#### Step 7: Automate Citation and Warrant Issuance

Configure automatic issuance of citations or warrants based on violation severity or patterns.

1. Navigate to **Admin** > **Settings** > **Violations**.
2. Click **Automation Rules**.
3. Create a rule by selecting the trigger condition:
   - **Severity threshold**: Automatically issue a citation or warrant when a violation reaches a specified severity level (for example, critical).
   - **Violation count**: Trigger issuance after a client accumulates a specified number of violations within a time period.
4. Select the action: **Issue Citation** or **Issue Warrant**.
5. Configure the citation or warrant details (type, default charges, and assigned officer).
6. Click **Save** to activate the rule.

Automated citations and warrants are created in draft status, requiring staff review and approval before finalization.

#### Step 8: Track Supervision Requirements with Reminders

Link violations to supervision conditions and set up automated reminders for compliance.

1. Open a violation record.
2. Click **Link to Supervision** to associate the violation with the client's active supervision.
3. If the violation triggers additional supervision requirements (for example, increased check-in frequency or mandatory drug testing), click **Add Requirement**.
4. Set the requirement details, including deadline and responsible officer.
5. Enable **Automated Reminders** to notify the client and officer before each requirement deadline.
6. Click **Save** to update the supervision record.

Reminders are sent via the configured notification channels (email, SMS) based on the schedule you define.

#### Step 9: Review Audit Logs

Every violation action is tracked in a detailed audit log for accountability and compliance.

1. Open a violation record.
2. Click the **Audit Log** tab.
3. Review the chronological list of all actions taken on this violation, including:
   - Record creation, edits, and status changes
   - Penalty additions and modifications
   - Notification deliveries and recipient details
   - Workflow launches and task completions
   - User who performed each action and timestamp
4. Export the audit log by clicking **Export** for court documentation or compliance reporting.

### What to Expect

New violation records appear immediately in the violations list and on the linked client's profile. Notifications are delivered within moments of clicking **Send**. Workflow tasks populate in the assigned staff's task queue. Trend reports update as new violations are recorded and resolved.

### Best Practices

- Record violations promptly while details are fresh and documentation is accurate.
- Always link violations to the correct client and case for a complete compliance history.
- Use severity levels consistently across your agency so reporting is meaningful.
- Review violation trends monthly to identify clients or programs that need intervention.
- Configure workflow templates in advance so follow-up actions launch immediately when a violation is recorded.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I edit a violation after it has been created?**
A: Yes. Open the violation record and click **Edit**. Update the fields you need to change and click **Save**. An audit log tracks all modifications.

**Q: How do I link a violation to multiple cases?**
A: Each violation is linked to one primary case. If the violation affects multiple cases, create a separate violation record for each case to maintain accurate per-case compliance histories.

**Q: Can I delete a violation?**
A: Violations can be archived but not permanently deleted, ensuring a complete audit trail. To archive a violation, open the record and click **Archive**.

**Q: Who receives notifications when a violation is created?**
A: Notifications are sent only to the recipients you select. You can configure default notification rules in **Settings** to automatically alert specific roles whenever a violation is recorded.

**Q: How are severity levels defined?**
A: Default severity levels are low, medium, high, and critical. Your agency can customize these labels and add new levels in **Settings** > **Violations** > **Severity Levels**.

### Troubleshooting

| Issue | Symptoms | Solution |
|-------|----------|----------|
| Cannot create a violation | **Save** button is disabled or an error appears | Verify that all required fields (client, category, severity) are filled in. Confirm you have the correct permissions. |
| Notification not received | Recipient reports no alert | Check that the recipient's contact information is up to date and that their notification preferences include the delivery method you selected. |
| Workflow does not launch | No tasks appear after clicking **Start Workflow** | Verify that the workflow template is active and properly configured. Check **Settings** > **Workflows** for template status. |
| Trend data looks incomplete | Reports show fewer violations than expected | Confirm the date range and filters are set correctly. Archived violations may not appear in active reports unless you include archived records in your filter. |

### Related Articles

- [How to Use the Supervision Dashboard](/how-to-use-supervision-dashboard)
- [How to Manage Supervision Check-ins](/how-to-manage-supervision-checkins)
- [How to Manage Cases](/how-to-manage-cases)
- [How to Manage Clients](/how-to-manage-clients)