Sunday, March 1, 2009

Texas Probation Stipulations

Ok, I lied. I said this Texas probation post was going to expand what I already posted about my charges and kind of delve into what the circumstances were surrounding the charges. But I had something else on my mind, so I'm going to postpone that series of posts for a second and just kind of go over all of the restrictions that the state of Texas can impose upon you when you're put on probation.

A lot of this is through my own experience, so I'm sure I'll leave a lot of things out. I'm no lawyer by any stretch of the imagination - not even a jailhouse lawyer.

So, a lot of the stipulations that you are given depend largely on the crime in question. The state government wants to make it seem like it's doing its part in rehabilitating its probationers, so it will impose some classes and meetings that are mandatory depending on the crime. For example: if you were arrested and put on probation for Driving While Intoxicated, please expect to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the duration of your probationary period - most likely a year or a year and a half. If you have anxiety and you don't like to get out of the house much (probably why you're an alcoholic in the first place), then you better find a way to get around this, quick. Forging signatures is a little risky, because while AA is "anonymous", and your probation officer won't usually check, they do have ways to find out if you've been going. This is probably the most tedious and painstaking part of probation, but accepting it will get you through it.

On top of AA (or NA for you narcotic-types), a DWI will probably get you a victim impact class (even if there is no "victim" - guess what? The victim is YOU!), a drug offender program and after an assessment of your drug use, you could get Supportive Outpatient Treatment or Intensive Outpatient Treatment - which basically is a bunch of meetings and drug tests. All at your expense! You can get free SOP and IOP at certain places, but the drug offender program, victim impact, and most other classes will require you to pay around 100 to 200 dollars. You can also be required to take Anger Management, if your crime had to do with violence.

Another stipulation of probation - one I could probably write an entire post on, and probably will (and a song) - is community service. This is, in my opinion, the worst part about being on probation in Texas. Not only is it working for free, it is often humiliating work, and shady rules surround who you can work for. Going to work at a place where people talk down to you all day after getting off your normal job, or school, is a punishment that is excessive. Especially after all the classes and fines.

Expect to get most of this tacked onto your monthly supervision fee, if not all of it. Also expect to stay in the county you were convicted in (they'll usually let you transfer, but then you must stay in the county you transfer to), expect to maintain a full-time job or go to school full-time, and if you drive, be prepared to keep your license up-to-date and all tags current on your vehicle. Failing to do any of these things can result in violation (even though usually they don't - try and stay cool with your PO - don't kiss ass, just be cool).

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this info!!! It was exactly what I was looking for...

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  2. Do you know anything about getting a probation transfer from California to Texas? Like, what will Texas require from the person from California to do? Thanks! you can hit me back on nina1simone2001@yahoo.com

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