BAB09's Journal

So, I just now feel composed enough to write about what happened on Thursday night/Friday morning. After a day at the beach (Therapy Session  to discuss attempts to be honest and remain drug-free, the usual stuff, followed by a visit with a friend to see Harry Potter, and then hang out), son called me at the agreed-upon time to be picked up (points for that), and we drove home.  He slept the entire 45 min home, which isn't that unusual. I was tired so I cleaned up, tried to settle in to go to sleep (husband was already sleeping), and then was abruptly awakened by knocking on the door at midnite.  Son had just answered the door. I came out to see 2 police officers confirming his name, and telling him there is a warrant for his arrest.  Long story short, the hand-delivered notices telling us that he was to have a court day in June (for the previous offence of having pot on him at school), had never been delivered to our house (husband and I checked the dates and times they were supposedly served, and someone was here each time, so we have filed a complaint against the officers). 

Anyway, what happened was that son was taken away in handcuffs, to be seen by Judge the following morning.  Before leaving with the police, son emptied pockets on the kitchen bar. After he was gone, husband and I saw that the contents of his pockets were a marijuana bud and brass knuckles (almost humorous, because son has never been in a fignt).

Five in the morning got the call from Police that we would see judge at 8:30 next morning.  I didn't sleep at all, we went there, son came in with all the other juvenile offenders (there were about 15 of them, and they were not from his "side of the street", very rough looking crowd.  All were there for petite theft or drug possession, and all were shackled.  Judge called his name, we stood with him and judge recognized husbands name as an attorney, gave a little smile, and told son that he would call him to stand before him again after he listened to all other teens and parents stand and give their explanations for not showing up for court dates, not appearing for probation sentenced, etc.  Many of the kids were beligerent, as were many of the parents.  Husband says he's seen this all before and it's typical.  When noone was left, 3 hours later, son and Husband and I were called back up, and Judge said that he saved us for last because he wanted son to see what kind of kids he is being associated with and asked him if he would  like to be given a probation officer and be put on probation and pay 50 dollars as opposed to coming back to court again and again as these kids do.  Son quickly chose probation.  We spent the rest of the day meeting with the probation people (the PO hasn't been assigned yet), and reviewing the rules:  6pm curfew for 6 months, not smoking, random drug tests, find a way to pay the $50, go to NA meetings again, and do whatever parents say, even if it doesn't seem fair.  We finished about 3PM.  We have barely spoken to him since then. We let him know that we knew about the pot in his pocket, and things could have been much worse,  he seems to have his tail between his legs and is abiding by the curfew and staying out of our way.

That chip on his shoulder needs to be knocked clean off this time.