Dante6677
Member
Reged: 08/14/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Fl. Panhandle
|
|
I have a question for any probation officers out there, what kind of standing do probation officers have about probationers using OP's? And can a probation officer tell a probationer not to do something that is perfectly legal(according to DEA diversion control notices 2001)? My cousin says he wants to use an OP but his PO says NO even though he has proof of his pain. Any Knowledge out there?
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
This depends on the PO and your cousin's terms of probation. He/she may have a stipulation as such. I wouldn't know without seeing the docket. Drinking alcohol is also perfectly legal, however, if you're on probation for certain things - they can tell you not to drink alcohol or you're in violation. It all depends on the terms of probation, your particular PO and how strict the PO is about it.
I mentioned the word "online OP" once to my PO, he cringed and quietly said, "I'll pretend I didn't here that." Needless to say, if you were in trouble for drugs... it makes things a bit more complicated. Still, if you have a valid prescription from a local doctor - they can do nothing about it. They may whine and complain about the whole situation, however, they're too busy to get caught up in technicalities. Again.. it depends on the PO.. I can tell you, also - out of all the drugs they test for (sent to lab most states for the standard 10 panel) - benzos will stay in your system the longest. That's if you've been on a therapeutic dose for some time. (up to 6 weeks will show). Hope some info. helps.. 
|
sweat
Old Hand
Reged: 12/23/01
Posts: 491
Loc: NJ
|
|
One question... Why even tell your P.O.????
I'm on probation and I wouldnt even think about even mentioning it. Even if your not on probation for drugs. Why dig yourself a deeper hole?
Probation s u x.
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Quote:
One question... Why even tell your P.O.????
I'm on probation and I wouldnt even think about even mentioning it. Even if your not on probation for drugs. Why dig yourself a deeper hole?
Probation s u x.
As a former PO, I agree completely with Sweat -- don't ever volunteer any information to the criminal injustice system.
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
Quote:
One question... Why even tell your P.O.???? I'm on probation and I wouldnt even think about even mentioning it. Even if your not on probation for drugs
Hi Sweat,
I agree, I wouldn't volunteer anything at all if it can be avoided. You would need to tell your PO if your UA comes back 'dirty' and they tell you it's for drug 'XYZ'. In my case, it comes back dirty every time, however, I have valid medical records and scripts so there are no hassles. If you do not have a valid script, they can violate you. I know plenty of folks who are not on probation for drugs, yet still get UA'd frequently. Some states are more lenient than others I suppose. Later..
|
Dante6677
Member
Reged: 08/14/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Fl. Panhandle
|
|
That would be the obvious thing to do If PO's didnt ua regularly. The Question is if this is legal( with med records and physical) how can a PO say NO?
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Your point is well-taken, Dante -- if you test dirty, you need a story and the best one is script from somewhere.
I was actually referring to the more general concept of asking a PO about using an OP or IOP. When I was a PO, had I heard such a question -- which I never did because it was pre-online days - I would have said something like, "as long as it's a licensed Doc writing the script, it's OK with me." Let me warn you, however, that even in liberal SF area, I was probably atypical -- there were a lot of PO's going to law school and looking to make future political careers, so you had to be careful; i.e. volunteer nothing, but have a clever, verifiable excuse for everything. We never wanted to work too hard, so if we could check it out with one phone call, that was usually good enough for us.
|
bdc3r
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/28/02
Posts: 200
Loc: USA
|
|
Don't some PO's, especially when a client is under Intense Supervised Probation conduct credit checks, etc. to look for any attempted illicit activity?
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Quote:
Don't some PO's, especially when a client is under Intense Supervised Probation conduct credit checks, etc. to look for any attempted illicit activity?
I've been out of the business for over twenty five years, so it would be misleading for me to comment on specific practices that might or might not be used in a particular case. What I'm trying to relate is a general "climate" pervasive in the criminal injustice system, which I doubt has changed very much: it's not about truth and justice, it's about full employment for judges and lawyers! Dealing with that bureaucracy will make eRX seem sane and responsive by comparison.
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
I've never heard that. They're way too busy to get caught up in money-laundering and who owes what on their taxes. Other state and federal departments (IRS, FBI, etc..)handle that arena I would imagine.
|
Dante6677
Member
Reged: 08/14/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Fl. Panhandle
|
|
Actually my cousin is on federal probation and they do sometimes require a copy of his cc bills and every month he sends a copy of bank statements and paycheck stubs.
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Quote:
I've never heard that. They're way too busy to get caught up in money-laundering and who owes what on their taxes. Other state and federal departments (IRS, FBI, etc..)handle that arena I would imagine.
Unless things have really changed in past 25 years, most PO's are busy playing cards at lunch for three hours or doing their briefs for their law school class that night. They may require you to submit all kinds of paperwork, like credit card statements, but unless you're a high-profile politically sensitive case, they probably just file them. BUT keep in mind there are exception to every rule and there were some truely maniacal PO's out there, especially if they are involved in authoritarian, paternalistic religious movements - I knew a couple like that. Probably couldn't pass the personality stability tests to be a cop
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
Being on and off probation, over the past 15 years, I've been assigned to dozens of different PO's as they quit or get fired. My current one is trying to utilize my technical expertise in the design for his frickin website - (I feel like sending him a consulting bill). I reminded him about a small conflict of interests. Lol..
Your comment made me laugh. They try and control your life and that's not what's it's supposed to be about. L8r..
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Although I'm really happy to be out of the PO business - I can't help but think that there were a few lives I could have improved, if I'd made a real effort. But I didn't and there are people now doing long sentences,who wouldn't be if I'd done my job. NOt a part of uncivil service I'd recommend to anyone graduating from college.
|
Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
|
|
Well, the one my ex has certainly isn't like that. They take the address he gave them at face value. He doesn't even live there any more. He gave the Attorney General a fake address also. I told the AG to contact his PO for his current address, but you can figure out how that went. He doesn't pay his support and changes jobs frequently. I believe those 2 are related, but that's another story. As with all professions, some are good, some are bad.
--------------------
"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
|
digitalone
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 181
Loc: USA
|
|
Sweetz: Sorry to hear what sounds like a bad situation. I once had a girlfriend who thought she would 'play' the system. She would give false addresses, never pay restitution and then eventually stopped reporting after her third dirty UA. It took awhile, roughly 6 months, but it caught up with her and now she's in state serving our her original Class 3F time. IMO, her PO was too lenient and should've been violated her after the 2nd dirty.. Goes to show how some are evil, some show up for a check and some do actually try/care. I've all kinds and know.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
