I also agree with you !! I had a P.O. that was violating me Right and Left !! Flat out LIED about EVERY Violation !!. Finally I bought me a Security System and a COUPLE recording devices that I used EVERY TIME I had contact with my P.O. INCLUDING my monthly Office visits !!!!. Things changed once I did that AND informed her IN WRITING that ANYTHING she wanted me to do would have to be summited IN WRITING and have the Statue included.. I was violated 7 TIMES within the first 2 years !!! Until I started recording EVERYTHING !! Then , FINALLY after Repeated requests, I was given another P.O. !! And never had another issue at all !!!!!. But my first P.O managed to get me CONVICTED !! I was “Adjudication WITHHELD”, But somehow I’m now Convicted !! And I BEAT EVERY VIOLATION charge !!. So, YES , CHALLENGE EVERYTHING AND RECORD EVERYTHING, VIDEO EVERYTHING !!!! Because it’s the Job of a P.O. to VIOLATE YOU and put you in PRISON !!!. Not to help you !!!

Very interesting course of events. You are correct. I, too, believe that most PO’s have no clue as to what is legal or not legal. If it fits their scenario then it’s OK. My PO thinks that the US Constitution’s position on civil rights does not apply in Brevard County Florida and that county ordinances…Brevard County Ordinance 2006-31… has priority over the Constitution.

Parole/probation officers are basically failed or wannabe cops with a God complex playing on the fear of re-imprisonment of those they supervise. They frequently overstep their authority, and often don’t even know how much or what kind of authority they actually have. 99 times out of 100, when they use the words “the law says” it is followed by an outright lie or egregious misrepresentation. Challenge them. If they claim you’re violating a law, demand they show you the law, especially the ridiculous ones.

Last year, my PO told me he could violate me for having Youtube video shortcuts on my phone because it could be considered pornography. I dared him to violate me, then. He immediately backed off, claiming it wasn’t him, but other POs and maybe judges. That’s fine. I want that PO or judge to explain on the record how Youtube is pornography. That session ended a little tense, but otherwise uneventful.

The following Sunday, I was “arrested” (reason for quotes explained below) for probation violation. I waited in the holding cell for a couple hours waiting for paperwork when a guard told me I had a professional visit – my PO. I refused. After a brief debate about whether or not I had the right to refuse a visitor, I stopped arguing and went to the professional visitor room, about 20 feet away.

After he opened the door, I stopped in the doorway and said, direct quote, “Anything you and I have to discuss will be at the hearing. Not before. This visit is over.” I went back to the holding cell and closed the door. About half an hour later, the same guard brought a packet and and told me the PO said if I just sign them I would be released. Again, I refused.

Oddly enough, I was released an hour later anyway. I asked where all the booking discharge paperwork that I was supposed to sign were and was told they didn’t start any. I told them to start it now and they claimed they couldn’t since the arresting officer (my PO) left. That’s why I put “arrest” in quotes above.

Funny also how the PO was at the end of the block when I started walking back to my hotel room and offered a ride. I just gave him a dirty look and curt no thank you.

The SO treatment provider asked, as always, if there were any issues and I said only that the PO and I certainly had an issue that weekend, but I wasn’t going to get into it – discuss it with him and we’ll talk about it next week. When she pressed it the following week I insisted that his story should be the platform for that discussion. Eventually, she said the PO didn’t know what I was talking about.

The PO was all sweetness and light at my next check in, asking how I was and telling me to let him know if he can help with anything and the whole affair hasn’t been mentioned since. I made a point of documenting everything, but the only potential proof of the “arrest” would be the jail guard, who I’m sure has developed a case of selective memory.

Apologies for being long-winded, but I think it’s necessary to convince RCs to start standing up for themselves. Nothing will change if we keep rolling over for this idiocy.

Your charge does not fall under the mandatory sex offender conditions. I’m guessing you have certain sex offender conditions as part of your probation, that was because the courts gave them as special conditions at your sentencing and and announced them orally. Also guessing that you were convicted of 847.0135(4) or (3). Anyone convicted cannot be. (legally) sentenced to all of the sex offender conditions but CAN be given specific items from that list.
If you know of anyone who is on probation and has all of the . conditions to abide by, i highly recommend that you inform them of this so they can take the steps needed to have those conditions modified.
Also, if I’m not mistaken, when your probation is done the 1000 ft rule does not apply to you. Correct me if am wrong please.
Hope this helps.

As it comes down, they will enforce those laws and ordinances that most benefit the bureaucracy. Being successful in the corrections process is not one of their goals. Here’s an example of how they use the system to their advantage. I lived in Florida from June 2003 until April 2009 with no monitoring required. Then I committed a cardinal violation…I said good morning to my neighbor’s son on a sidewalk in our neighborhood with both his and his parent’s approval. I was seen saying Good Morning by the neighborhood ‘biddy’ who reported it. The sheriff investigated and saw no problem but probation is not one to pass up a financial opportunity. Because of my ‘crime’ they put me on monitoring and charged me $360 a month…that’s right, a month. In September of 2017 my Florida lawyer said that amount seemed awful high and asked me to check on it. When I went in to make my October meeting with my probation officer I asked about it. She immediately went into the defensive mode saying that neither I nor her nor a judge in Virginia could change that. Then I guess her conscience…yes, some might actually have one…got the best of her and she got on her computer and went to the DoC web site. In a few minutes she got a strange look on her face and then told me that I had been over paying. In fact I had been overpaying to the tune of $5,200 which DoC had put into an account for me…and of course they were collecting interest on it. My probation officer told me that I would not have to pay the monthly fee for the next 22…yes, 22…months. They let me over pay for all that time and made no effort to let me know. This is just an example of how criminal these Florida DoC employees are. Things are going to have to change soon.

Karen,
I guess it depends on what county you were prosecuted in and/or live in for probation, etc… I was charged in St Johns Co. and my probation orders there do NOT have my statute listed as requiring mandatory monitoring AND internet restriction. So basically, I was arrested in one of those dumb sting operations, which was ran over the internet mind you, and I am on probation and CAN use the internet, and DO NOT have to wear a monitor! Praise God for that! But I know others with my statute that have both restrictions placed on them. So it’s a head scratcher indeed and just goes to show you how insane these statutes, ordinances, and laws are surrounding our entire situation. Also, these things and restrictions come down to basic “IF-AND” logic statements when you read the wording. For example, many of these laws read “If you were arrested after Oct 1, 2005, AND you are charged with 774.43, 800.25 (or whatever), you are subject to a curfew.” Well in the example, the person would have to have been arrested AFTER 10-1-05, AND be charged with one of those statutes to have that restriction placed on them. BOTH conditions have to be met to have that law apply to them. Make sense?? So according to my statute in St John’s Co, it does NOT meet the requirement for both conditions to have those restrictions placed on me. ** YOU MUST READ THESE THINGS CAREFULLY so you can challenge them with the probation officer, etc…

MJ – I looked up your statute – what I am wondering is if you can provide further details of why living restrictions (or other things) do not apply to those convicted of that statute? I do not see that info in the statute. Not that I think anyone should have to comply (after sentence completed) but I am curious.

Us army vet how are you a ex RSO?? How did you get off the registry?

http://multimedia.illinois.gov/court/AppellateCourt/Audio/2016/3rd/101916_3-14-0627.mp3