Probation Reivew

I’ve been off of Home Confinement now for about 7 months.  All I can say is it is great to be able to get out and go pretty much anywhere without having “special” permission.  Also I finally found a job!  Hence my lack of writing for a while.  It’s a decent, but not great job.  As with most people re-entering the workforce these days it is well below what my education and experience.  However, I’ve never been too proud and was willing to take what I could so that I could be working.  I do enjoy and get a chance to interact with a variety of people and organizations.

That being said, getting a job is great, but I do still have my conviction and history hanging over my head.  At the conclusion of the evaluation period I was supposed to get a pay increase.  However, when the time came they negated any raise and kept my pay at the evaluation level stating that I was lucky to be working.  It’s really frustrating, but I would agree I am happy to be working.

Life continues to get better and better.  My life is slowly getting back to normal….well, that was until the Friday prior to Mother’s Day.  I received a package in the mail from the probation department.  It was time for the financial review and a note on the inside said I need to have it turned in by the coming Tuesday.  Well, there goes all the Mother’s Day plans we had.

These are similar to the information done in the pre-investigation reporting; they can be pretty extensive and complicated.  The biggest issue is that most bills are paid online and I  never see the full bill.  In speaking to my PO, she stated that in order for someone to be removed from probation they will have to submit to these items.  That sounded like very good news.  I was going to do what I could get off probation.  It took me over 10 hours and almost a 1/2 ream of paper.  Needless to say I dropped it off on that Tuesday and am keeping my fingers crossed that there won’t be any more requests for information.

I’m now half-way through my probationary period.  Will I be released early?  Will I be able to spend my life the way I was prior to my conviction?  We can only hope and pray I am.

 

I know I haven’t written in a while…

I know I have been remiss in writing over the last couple of months.  Lots has happened which has forced me to stay very busy!

I was finally released from my home confinement on November 27th, but not without complications and a lot of work on my part.  One would think that you will be released from you ankle bracelet on the day designated by your probation officer when they first put it on.  Well, not with the probation officer I had.

About a week prior to my designated date I sent an email to my probation officer in order to confirm his availability to remove my ankle bracelet on the designated day (it was the day before Thanksgiving).  Needless to say I did not hear from him.  Two days later, still no response.  This time I opted to call him and leave a voicemail, again, no response.  I then just left it along until November 27th.  Yeah, probably should not have waited.

Home Confinement: Slowly Coming to an End

I know it has been a while since I’ve written to this blog, but my situation continues to get stranger and stranger.

While I’m still on Home Confinement I just don’t know what is going on. I’ve been told three times that I would have an opportunity to get off early.  However, I’m stuck in a world that just doesn’t make any sense. I was prosecuted out of one jurisdiction, but live in another (a good 800 miles away).  During my sentencing the judge instructed that my case be transferred to my residential area and all post incarceration matters would be handled there.

Here is where the problems come in. While the transcript of the sentencing states it was to be transferred the documented copies of the sentencing says it is recommended and authorized for transfer. This has created many problems; even prior to my release. Because my case was in a different jurisdiction, the case managers at the Atlanta USP had to get a waiver for my probation to be held in my place of residence. This created many delays; which included the inspection of my home for release. My original jurisdiction was required to authorize a “proxy” probation officer. While I was technically under my local area, all information was to be provided to the prosecuting area.