Paying probation without a job?

[anotercountrygi]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? G.A.

Paying probation without a job... sounds impossible, right? Well, while I was on probation in a certain county in G.A. I was worried about not being able to pay, and my P.O. told me that it was okay if I couldn't pay because he couldn't lock me up. However, my friend is on probation in another county. He has been laid off, and even sold his car in order to pay some of his fine and survive. Now, his P.O. has given him a week to come up with a lot of money to go on his fine. The P.O. is saying that he will put out a warrant for him and lock him up until his court date, which is legal. But, I want to know if the P.O. can arrest my friend for not having the funds to pay on his fine? Is that legal?

[dave33]

It depends if a payment plan was already established. In general you cannot get locked up solely because you are poor. The court system has found ways around that, the most common is violating a previously established payment plan. Although a probation payment is different. Your friend may not have a job so he cannot pay, but most likely being employed is a term of his probation. So technically his p.o. could violate him because of his employment status, when really the p.o. just wants him to pay. In other words his p.o. can do just about anything he/she wants(within reson). goodluck.