Thanks for the offer to help, and welcome. This group is great and nonjudgmental. Does Texas have lifetime registration like California? What tips do you have finding a job, and what are some good resources for that? My guy is still on probation with an ankle monitor. What were your probation stipulations…..looking forward to some positive advice. I am glad you found a great and understanding girlfriend. Everyone makes mistakes, and it sounds like you take full responsibility.

Thanks for the welcome, mtbfan! Yeah, Texas does have lifetime registration as well, although it depends on the severity of the crime. Some other guys I have met through therapy have to register only for the length of their parole, or maybe 10 years afterward. It varies from case to case.

As for jobs, the probation and ankle monitor do make it difficult, and I imagine that he's not allowed to have any kind of contact with minors, which makes getting any kind of service industry job difficult. I'm sure you've heard this already, but I would recommend that he bring it up with his probation officer, although whether they will be any help, there's no telling; some are, some aren't. Generically, I would suggest checking out warehouse jobs, and maybe construction. Those are difficult, manual labor jobs, but that may be what he has to do. How long is his probation for, if I may ask?

As for my restrictions, where to begin.....on probation, I wasn't allowed to have any internet access. I had to attend sex offender therapy once a week, and take a lie-detector test once every six months. I wasn't allowed to have any contact with my victim, or any minors of any kind, which made it difficult as an 18 year old just starting college. Those are all the major ones, and I'll see if I can find and post a .pdf or something that has all the restrictions listed online, i'm sure its somewhere....

Welcome! I am a mom of a 23 year son. He was just released from in Oct. 2014, he was in prison after doing 5 1/2 years. I am learning how this system is here in California, very strict laws. Even though he is a low risk all restrictions apply as if he was a high risk.

He cannot be on the internet, no camera on phone, needs a letter for anyone he gets involved with for his parole officer.

California law are strict, many cases are being fought right now, he is even fighting his case in court at this time. I just pray and keep the faith that everything will get better. He was convicted with being with an underage girl she lied about her age :(

He gets frustrated to have so many limitations he is only 23 yrs old, young wish to be normal. But the challenge stays.

I am happy to hear that you have taken full responsibility for your actions and for given yourself that is a big step. with that you will continue to succeed. You are right we all make mistakes. People are quickly to judge.

I am glad that you have joined this group and I am new myself.

God Bless

Welcome Gamer. We love to get input from those who have been in the system. My husband is currently serving a 30 yr sentence for abusing our daughter. The laws here in CA are very tough on registrants and their families.

This group was a god-send for me when we were navigating through the court system. I now want to help others as they go through the process. Our family has forgiven hubby for his actions. Daughter has healed from the abuse, especially when she saw that he was sorry for his actions. We all feel that the punishment doesn't fit the crime - especially when statuses show that registrants have a very low reoffense rate. I'm sure your sisters also feel the same - knowing that you didn't deny your actions and that you were sorry for what you did, gave them what they needed to heal. Take it one step at a time. You're smart to only limit contact to only when they request to see you. You are showing them that you respect their space, which helps them to learn to trust you again.

Again Welcome!

Welcome, MY son is 23 and serving a 20 year sentence on Texas for child porn. He didn't take the pictures only downloaded them off of the internet. I will be honest and say i have not been on in a while. I kind of ran away from everything. I write my son and talk to him, I have gotten to visit him once. He and i were very close and this has been one of the hardest things we have been through, the whole family, I worry about him every day.
It is awesome to know that when he gets out (first parole hearing is in March next year) that maybe there is someone he can talk to who will understand everything he has been through.
Thank you for helping our loved ones.
Quita

Thanks Gamer. My guy is on a 3 year formal probation and we are hoping to get the ankle monitor off at some point in the near future. Talking to an attorney does little since all keep repeating that the PO can do anything they want, even if it is not reasonable related to his offense. His offense was a non contact, no minors involved. Still, his PO added a stipulation for not associating with minors, and he ordered the GPS. I find this unreasonable and also unnecessary. Were your restrictions eased at some point? He really has no other restrictions besides the mandatory probation stipulations. Going back to court to have some restrictions modified seems like a waste of money to me if the PO thinks they are appropriate. Also, how did you do on the Polys? Did you ever fail one, and did that have any consequences? Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it.

Has your son finished treatment mtb? That was when my probation got much easier, after I completed treatment.

Independent. It is my fiance actually. He is currently in treatment, but of course nobody is letting us know how long the treatment is. We are in California, so I don't know if treatment can end before probation is over?