Member Submission: Compliance Checks
While FAC deals only with registry issues, many of our members are having to deal with sex offender probation, too.
In reading articles published throughout the United States, one will soon see that it is becoming a common occurrence to have U. S. Marshalls serving on specially assigned task forces to assist local law enforcement agencies in so-called compliance checks for people forced onto the registry. Research shows that these compliance checks are costing taxpayers a great deal of money and doing almost nothing to increase public safety.
This past Wednesday evening at 9:30 pm, our doorbell rang. Upon opening our front door, I was met by my husband’s probation officer along with eight other armed, bulletproof-vest-wearing individuals from probation and the U. S. Marshall’s Department, making for a total of nine individuals. The first man entered our home yelling, “U. S. Marshalls entering!” (We had just had a full house search a month ago by armed LE and will get another one on Halloween.)
My husband and I were first told that we had to leave the house. Upon seeing that my husband was having some difficulty trying to navigate his way outside in the dark, one of the invading individuals decided that we could remain in a front room. Three individuals used flashlights to search outside our home while four individuals searched the inside of our home. Two individuals remained with my husband and me, with my husband’s PO trying to quiz my husband on what electronic devices he owns. (Even though I have sent various medical reports to probation documenting my husband’s severe cognitive loss along with a civil court’s declaration of incapacity for him, probation has told me that they do not want me to bring up his dementia anymore. My husband is expected to follow all probation rules that someone without dementia is expected to follow, because that is what the statutes state.) So, I sat quietly as my husband struggled to answer his probation officer with his not knowing what the answers were. Finally, I looked at one of the other officers and quickly stated that my husband has been declared incapacitated by a civil court. At that point, she took over and told his probation officer that she was only to talk to me – not my husband. This was the first experience for me with probation in dealing with anyone that has any common sense.
When I inquired as to why the search was occurring, I was told that this is happening all over Florida for anyone on probation – not just sex offense probation. I was also told that our home was chosen randomly by a computer. All the registrants in our neighborhood who were eligible for this search were also targeted that night; therefore, I am not sure how “random” our search was, unless it is by neighborhood.
Just that morning, I had commented on an article in Pawnee County, Oklahoma about the wasted money and man hours spent on a compliance check that the local sheriff touted had made his county so much safer. Our experience this past Wednesday was not a compliance check per se, but had the same effect. While these nine individuals were combing our neighborhood, a very safe 55+ gated community, and finding nothing illegal, the residents on the east side of our city are begging for the presence of more LE’s because of the rapidly increasing gun crimes in their once safe neighborhoods. Our police department chief has been “throwing up his hands”, not knowing how to combat the rapidly rising gun violence there. There were nine individuals that he could have used this past Wednesday evening, but common sense is quickly leaving our legal system.
I was also told that these searches are necessary as one such search helped them find a 4-year-old girl tied up. My heart breaks for that little girl, but searching the homes of people who are now law-abiding citizens does nothing to prevent such situations from occurring. It only takes LE away from watching people they know are a threat.
So, If you are on probation in Florida, you could be getting a swat-team-style search some evening close to your curfew time, and, as always, will be told that these actions are making society safer.
By the way, I decided to follow the advice that someone posted at our FAC website a couple of years ago: I did not withdraw in any way the next day. I made sure that I was outside, as always, pulling weeds in our front yard and waving and speaking to my neighbors. If anyone ever asks me what was going on that night, I will answer that they were witnessing a waste of their hard-earned taxpayer money. Then I will give them a friendly smile, and the discussion will be over.
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“probation has told me that they do not want me to bring up his dementia anymore.”
Tough! Keep bringing it up. They don’t want to hear about it because it screws up their bs narrative to find SOMETHING to violate a probationer for.
Whether you’re convicted of a sex offense, DUI, robbery, conspiracy, theft, disturbing the peace, etc, probation is a waste of tax payer money. Period.
We need to rid the justice system of the probation department. If your crime requires jail/prison time, the same plea deals can be made for lesser time but there is no need for probation. It’s not parole.
If your crime is petty and doesn’t require jail/prison, then do 100 hours of community service and be done with it. Probation does not and cannot stop a criminal minded person from committing more crimes. And they look for stupid things to violate people for anyway.
When I was on probation in New Haven, CT., I was violated for working in a restaurant that had a bar. When the court dates were over and the judge sent me back out on probation “as it left off” (not starting over again) I moved to Bridgeport, CT where the probation department there had no problem with the NEW restaurant/bar I was working in which was literally 1 block away from their office and they used to come to that place for lunch.
Probation is a waste of money and time. But we’ll get the SOR abolished before we could ever get the probation dept abolished. The courts but too much stock in that probation department. And for what? Well, we know, don’t we? Pathetic.
Maestro
If I was a probation officer, I sure wouldn’t eat where one of my probationers worked. If you were tough on the probationer, I would be afraid they would put a slimy slug in my salad or worse LOL :)~
A 4-year-old girl tied up? I strongly suspect that’s just another LEO lie. If that were the case, then why are they conducting randomly computer-generated searches rather than starting with those at the highest risk of reoffending as they might be more likely to have tied-up 4-year-olds than someone with, for example, a CP offense. Yeah, given their statement, randomly conducted searches make no sense. They lie.
I’m confused on this one. Are you saying the feds join forces with state authorities to make sure RSOs on state probation are compliant? I ask because I’ve been on federal probation (supervised release) in Central Florida for 5 years and never had anything like this happen.
Yes, I was told that U. S. Marshals are joining up with state probation officers, at least in Florida. I do not know about federal probation.
U. S. Marshall task forces are being assigned all over the U. S. to pair up with local LE for compliance checks. Ours was by state probation officers accompanied by marshals, so a little different but ooooooh sooooo similar.
Think of the money being spent on these checks and what do they have to show for them?
Media
When it is all said and done, the agencies that formed the joint task force, will join together for a photo op and news briefing. They will pad the #’s of those arrested making minor violations sound like new sex offenses were committed. When in fact, John Boy Jones got arrested because he was 1/2 centimeter too close to a school when they used an Ace hardware tape measure instead of one from Home Depot.
Grants will be given to create a new task force and they will hire new officers, fancy new patrol cars, special flak jackets and grenade launchers, all in the name of keeping the neighbors safe from the bastards that should be in prison and hung by their privates. (According to some sheriffs)
A reality show will get picked up by HBO called “The predators among us” staring John Walsh as host. His partner will be Ice T. They will ride along with the task force in different counties tracking down those who should not walk among us. Get your popcorn ready and your lawyer on speed dial.
Interesting. Quite a few registrants experienced the same type of thing this past week in Alachua County (Gainesville). It was explained as a cross-training exercise between multiple police agencies, the county sheriff and probation. Curiously, a member of OPPAGA was also present. For those who are not familiar with that group, it is an independent oversight agency that was there to observe and make sure all rules were followed. In my incident, High Springs PD, Gainesville PD, Alachua County Sheriff and probation were represented.
Every member of the house (4 of 5 present) was asked to step outside and were questioned about devices, e-mails, and so forth. Vehicles were searched. Even the person who was not on any supervision and not a registrant was asked to step outside while the search was going on. She was not questioned. Total search time about 45 minutes.
Later, in talking to others, a minimum of nine registrant residences were “hit” that same night.
I will say in my particular experience, all of the law enforcement personnel (nine of them) were polite and professional in their actions.
I got the impression this was a one-time occurrence, but not sure. I guess we will find out.
U. S. Marshals were present as one of them loudly announced “U. S. Marshals entering the house”.
When I asked if the search was because of probation or the registry, I was told that this is happening to all people on any type of state probation: drug dealers, murderers, etc. I was told we were randomly picked and most likely will never happen again to us, but these searches are going to continue and we could be “randomly” picked again.
If it was random, why are they picking so many registrants? as in everyone in my neighborhood who was eligible for such a search?
I agree, the people could not have been nicer to us. I felt they all knew that there was nothing criminal going on in our home and never will be. After seeing my husband’s Navy retirement box with the flag and all of this duty stations, several took the time to thank him for his service as they left the home. The last person out said to us, “Bless you.”
It is still wrong what they did as they were “hitting” law-abiding citizens while there were real criminals roaming the streets of Gainesville elsewhere.
Media
I am so sorry you had to go through that. My time on probation was almost worse than when I was in prison. I say that because I was already in prison while locked up and all they could do to me was put me in solitary. But while on probation, you are somewhat free but look over your shoulder every waking minute wondering if this is the day they decide they want you back in a prison dorm.
Prayers for you and your family to get through this. I used this type of harassment and behavior in my favor before a judge and got off probation 6 years early. Cost me a lot of money at the time but was worth it for “Some” freedom.
The Registry is a sub category of probation as far as I am concerned. And the neighbors are our probations officers, always staring as they drive by the house. I asked one lady once, “What do you expect to see when you drive by, me standing there naked pleasuring myself?”
When I was on probation, I moved for this same reason. I lived at the time, in the state, the county AND the city. So one night I got a knock at the door. I peeked out and just saw the P.O. When I opened the door, the P.O stepped aside and Sheriff’s deputies, City police officers and FDLE agents all swarmed my house.
They literally tore my house apart. I asked what they were looking for and was told an anonymous tipster had said I had porn on my computer. They tore my house apart for 30 minutes before even going to my computer.
Nothing was found illegal or even suspect anywhere in my house or on my computer. I asked who was going to pay for the damages and one of the agents looked me in the eye and said “Do you want to go to jail you $#%^@”
Something good did come of it though, my probation officer told me after that even though she has to follow up on any tips, she will make sure next time it is just her looking with ONE officer standing by for her safety. I said I had nothing to hide and that was the last raid I ever had but it will stay in my memories until I die.
The Excellent thing that came from it is, I went to court a few months later to request early termination. My lawyer brought up the embarrassing and demeaning raid. That along with my stellar compliance while on probation got me off probation 6 years early.
BUT, that is not the end of the story. Sometimes I feel with all the ever changing harsher requirements that I am STILL on probation.
I am 100% I am not alone in that feeling.
Just wow! I am so sorry that you and your husband were treated like this. This is a great example of how ridiculous laws and so called requirements have run amuck.
Thank you for sharing your story and so very articulately I might add! You might also find registrymatters.co to be another resource as well as narsol.org.