My question involves criminal law for the state of: Tennessee.

I am actually the wife in this situation worried about my husband who faces these charges. Last August, we were dealing with quite a hardship in our marriage, mainly over money. Instead of communicating, we left everything unsaid. Needless to say, one day it exploded, and I became scared and let the police handle it. It was very embarrassing for me, as well as my husband, but I had no idea what to do in that moment. He spent a night in jail, and moved out for a few weeks while we sought counseling at church and with each other. However, in court, I did not know I could request NOTHING happen to him so I suggested anger management, thinking that would be beneficial, even if he needed it or not.

The judge told him he would be on probation for one calendar year, and if he stayed out of trouble his record would be cleared, and at my request that he attend a 26 week anger program that involved spouses. We were absolutely fine with this, until we realized how much those classes cost. The judge said in June of 2012, we would have court again to look at his probation, and see if he completed the classes.

My husband has stayed out of trouble, but every time we attempted to budget the money for the classes it never worked. I understand what my husband did was wrong, and a court order is a court order, but we simply never realized these classes cost so much. We also didn't prepare for such hard financial times, and a new baby on the way, on top of the two we already have. Things are just tight. Obviously I can't walk into court and explain that my husband has changed, because the judge gave him orders, but what can we do?

We never really knew how to handle this, given neither one of us have records, nor spend much time in criminal court. Therefore, he has not notified court of our problems, and I do not want him to be seen as trying to get out of classes because he never notified them. What can he do? Should I attend court? Will they simply fine him and make him keep the charges, despite his clean record on probation? Can he request more time to take the classes? Do they offer help with the cost?

I've asked for advice on this matter from a "Mother Forum Site" and they were nothing but negative in helping me. My husband knows what he did was wrong, and as his wife we have worked through that problem. Even in court for the "no contact order" our judge made us watch other's get divorced by making an example of us that we should fight through this small slip up, that we both realized was over money, not anger. That alone, was a changing point, but we must get through this slip up of not being able to finance these classes and now his court date is approaching! Please help!