Juvie PO

[dave33]

Wouldn't my probation contract have to say these things for me to be able to be violated over them?



I passed my drug tests (and they use the alcohol one that goes days back). So I guess not.

Now I don't have a phone. Are they going to replace it? I doubt it. So now there's no way for us to be in contact at any moment of the day. But that doesn't seem to be a problem for them. So how's it that it was a problem for them for 3 1/2 days?

When you are on probation you have no leverage and can be violated over nothing. When the p.o. violates your probation you are screwed.
Almost all probation violations end in plea deals in the states favor. It is considered civil which lowers the burden dramatically.

 

[thecody]

What exactly do your probation documents say about you keeping in touch with your probation officer or your probation officer keeping in touch with you, then?

Is it your understanding that you can go where you want when you want for as long as you want and not let your probation officer know, and that you can do this without providing your probation officer with any way to contact you, as long as you don't leave the country or the state?

Probation doesn't sound all that bad.

The documents say to attend meetings with PO as directed, which is every 2 weeks. Which is what I did the day before. It doesn't say anything about contact/keeping in touch.
I didn't think it'd be a big deal to be places for 3 days and then go back to where i'm living at. I was going to school, I talked to him there before so I figure he can still find me.

The probation hasn't been that bad until this. It's not like intensive probation or anything. The contract isn't that long. We don't have daily contact or anything. It's not like he calls me a whole lot on my phone. And now he can't call me anytime even if he wanted to and he hasn't told me to get a new phone.
So I'm just kind of confused.

Do you think he just got annoyed and is trying to scare me?

 

[stealth2]

SO what the heck is wrong with your parents/guardians? Did THEY know where you were? Could THEY get in touch with you? Though I can tell you that if you were MY kid? It would be a cold day in Hades before you thought you could spend 3 nights away from home, while on probation. You'd be home, without access to your phone (hence, no "lost" phone), and a heck of a lot of chores around the house. You'd be learning your lesson - in a harsher way than the legal system seems to have given you.

 

[thecody]

When you are on probation you have no leverage and can be violated over nothing. When the p.o. violates your probation you are screwed.
Almost all probation violations end in plea deals in the states favor. It is considered civil which lowers the burden dramatically.

How can you get violated over 'nothing'? DOn't you have to break one of the rules that's written down?

 

[stealth2]

How can you get violated over 'nothing'? DOn't you have to break one of the rules that's written down?

I suspect that there are broader rules that may not be specified in your "contract". Like.... you don't get to go AWOL for 3 days.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Do you think he just got annoyed and is trying to scare me?

I think you are in deep crap. You were released on probation into your parents care and control. When the probation officer started looking for you, the parents apparently had no clue where you were or what you were doing.

 

[quincy]

The documents say to attend meetings with PO as directed, which is every 2 weeks. Which is what I did the day before. It doesn't say anything about contact/keeping in touch.
I didn't think it'd be a big deal to be places for 3 days and then go back to where i'm living at. I was going to school, I talked to him there before so I figure he can still find me.

The probation hasn't been that bad until this. It's not like intensive probation or anything. The contract isn't that long. We don't have daily contact or anything. It's not like he calls me a whole lot on my phone. And now he can't call me anytime even if he wanted to and he hasn't told me to get a new phone.
So I'm just kind of confused.

Do you think he just got annoyed and is trying to scare me?

It is always possible that your probation officer just got annoyed. It is always possible that your probation officer is just trying to scare you.

It seems to have worked, at any rate.

I suggest you contact your probation officer now and go over with him the documents you have. Explain to him your understanding of what you were and were not allowed to do while on probation. Explain to him that you didn't know you couldn't spend time away from home with your friends. If spending time with friends is not what got you into trouble in the first place, the probation officer may be willing to cut you some slack this time (if he believes anything you say).

And talking to him is probably your best way to have the questions you want answered, answered.

You might also mention to your probation officer that you no longer have a phone. He may want to make arrangements with you to have regular call-in times. Do you have a land line in your home?

Although I am afraid that dave33 might be right and that you could be screwed and your probation revoked, talking everything out openly and honestly with your probation officer could help matters - and probably can't hurt.

 

[thecody]

I suspect that there are broader rules that may not be specified in your "contract". Like.... you don't get to go AWOL for 3 days.

They can't put that in there? What can a 'broader rule' be - anything?

I think you are in deep crap. You were released on probation into your parents care and control. When the probation officer started looking for you, the parents apparently had no clue where you were or what you were doing.

Oh. Fosters. They're new. I'm pretty sure they contacted people, then the PO started looking.

 

[stealth2]

Oh. Fosters. They're new. I'm pretty sure they contacted people, then the PO started looking.

Yeah - you are likely screwed.

 

[TheGeekess]

They can't put that in there? What can a 'broader rule' be - anything?



Oh. Fosters. They're new. I'm pretty sure they contacted people, then the PO started looking.

These folks go through all sorts of hoops set up by the state so they can provide a home for a young person who truly needs their help. And they get stuck with you.

 

[Eekamouse]

You lost your phone but didn't bother to check your voicemails remotely?

 

[thecody]

It is always possible that your probation officer just got annoyed. It is always possible that your probation officer is just trying to scare you.

It seems to have worked, at any rate.

I suggest you contact your probation officer now and go over with him the documents you have. Explain to him your understanding of what you were and were not allowed to do while on probation. Explain to him that you didn't know you couldn't spend time away from home with your friends. If spending time with friends is not what got you into trouble in the first place, the probation officer may be willing to cut you some slack this time (if he believes anything you say).

And talking to him is probably your best way to have the questions you want answered, answered.

You might also mention to your probation officer that you no longer have a phone. He may want to make arrangements with you to have regular call-in times. Do you have a land line in your home?

Although I am afraid that dave33 might be right and that you could be screwed and your probation revoked, talking everything out openly and honestly with your probation officer could help matters - and probably can't hurt.

Yeah I'm scared. If it's a new foster home that would still suck but I really don't wanna go anywhere else.

Thanks for your advice. He already knows I don't have a phone.

These folks go through all sorts of hoops set up by the state so they can provide a home for a young person who truly needs their help. And they get stuck with you.

What do you know? Have you tried going around all different homes?

I don't know why they moved me from the last. Things were fine. But I dunno yet, some places take longer than others but i guess you already know all this.

 

[stealth2]

I don't know why they moved me from the last. Things were fine. But I dunno yet, some places take longer than others but i guess you already know all this.

Maybe because you are apparently a Person in Need of Supervision. You don't get to do what you want w/o consequences. Being moved is a consequence of your misbehavior.

 

[thecody]

You lost your phone but didn't bother to check your voicemails remotely?

No. I never have...

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

No. I never have...

Its past your bed time.