Families of SOs Community Group
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I went in with my son to speak with his PO today. We asked for 2 things.
1, to be able to travel 10 miles to NJ for a 4th of july celebration (we're in PA) - denied
2. to set up my store computer to be monitored so that when my son comes to work he could pull orders.
The PO looked at me and said that my son going on the computer something he could do but he said I didn't seem to understand the seriousness of the crime and what my son did. We've been in his office before but I just had to say.. My son accidentally downloaded cp that he never watched. The PO in past visits said my son did not seem like the others he gets in.. and now I had his attention. He asked me and my son questions. I was very careful all the other times to shut up and smile but now that I've said it we proceeded with caution.
We sat in his office for about 2 hours. We spoke of forensics and that cp of the 3 y.o. the prosecutor refused to take off the front page of my son's plea, altho it was never found on the computer.
Instead of the PO allowing my son to access the shop computer he is allowing my son to have his own laptop, monitored , that he can use at home for his social networking. and because he's a musician, to put his music out there on youtube. And, when he comes to work he can bring his laptop and hook it up to the printer here to pull orders.
The PO also mentioned that his supervisor was pushing to have the Mental Health treatment changed to SO treatment but we could go to the judge and get a hearing to keep it mental health. He now understands why the judge would change SO to mental health.. something that confused him for the past 3 months.
We're being careful not to say much. and my son remarked that we should have talked with our lawyer first but it just seemed the right time and the PO was receptive.
I'm hoping that 15 years probation will be cut down significantly now that the PO seems to believe us . He says what the court did, if it's true , is illegal. I'm hopeful, cautious, but hopeful.
1, to be able to travel 10 miles to NJ for a 4th of july celebration (we're in PA) - denied
2. to set up my store computer to be monitored so that when my son comes to work he could pull orders.
The PO looked at me and said that my son going on the computer something he could do but he said I didn't seem to understand the seriousness of the crime and what my son did. We've been in his office before but I just had to say.. My son accidentally downloaded cp that he never watched. The PO in past visits said my son did not seem like the others he gets in.. and now I had his attention. He asked me and my son questions. I was very careful all the other times to shut up and smile but now that I've said it we proceeded with caution.
We sat in his office for about 2 hours. We spoke of forensics and that cp of the 3 y.o. the prosecutor refused to take off the front page of my son's plea, altho it was never found on the computer.
Instead of the PO allowing my son to access the shop computer he is allowing my son to have his own laptop, monitored , that he can use at home for his social networking. and because he's a musician, to put his music out there on youtube. And, when he comes to work he can bring his laptop and hook it up to the printer here to pull orders.
The PO also mentioned that his supervisor was pushing to have the Mental Health treatment changed to SO treatment but we could go to the judge and get a hearing to keep it mental health. He now understands why the judge would change SO to mental health.. something that confused him for the past 3 months.
We're being careful not to say much. and my son remarked that we should have talked with our lawyer first but it just seemed the right time and the PO was receptive.
I'm hoping that 15 years probation will be cut down significantly now that the PO seems to believe us . He says what the court did, if it's true , is illegal. I'm hopeful, cautious, but hopeful.
I had permission to go to Jersey anytime since I had family there. All I needed to do was call and let him know.
As for the computer, you do not want the monitoring software on your business set up. It will capture everything. A laptop is a much better solution.
It was like light bulb went off as to the look on his face. He just shook his head. It was not long after that, that my hubby was told to get his fines paid off, so he could be off probation
I started by telling them I just wanted to make sure I remembered everything. Then, I asked for written instructions from them. They wouldn't do that so I took my notes.
Nako, you are very wise to have learned to smile, nod, and accept some of the things the PO has said or done. I know you just want to get up out of your seat and rip his head off, but you cannot do that.
I don't know how it is with POs, but I know with prison staff and the others who work for the BOP or DOC that they don't really care if you are innocent or guilty and they are not really interested in hearing the details of your crime. As far as they are concerned, you are guilty according to the letter of the law and they make their assumptions on that fact.
It might be different with POs, but that is the experience I had with DOC employees in prison.
rewdiazepam
coolrich: I've thought about taking notes. This time when the PO got the look on his face when I said my son accidentally downloaded them. . and then he closed the door to the office and said that what we were about to talk about 'never happened'. A lot of the time he would say that this is his job and his supervisor is on his ass about my son not taking treatment already. I just wanted to get the thought of my son being innocent in his head. Who knows how he'll act tomorrow.
rew: I try to play the game but this was just one of those times where it seemed the right opportunity. During his chat about this being his job I agreed and smiled and said we understood that he's doing his job and we can appreciate it. From this point on, I'm not going to bring it up again and will go back to smiling and nodding.
As far as the PO caring. I don't know. In the end it's all about his job and what his supervisor wants.
We accomplished my son's right to use a computer, monitored as it will be , but he has that and that's what we wanted. My son is only 24, single, a shy guy, a musician.. he needs a way to connect to the world.
You said, "During his chat about this being his job I agreed and smiled and said we understood that he's doing his job and we can appreciate it."
Smartest thing you ever did. In the future, your son will get more and more privileges back.
rewdiazepam
My charge was a single count possession CP. I was still employed as a computer programmer and was allowed continued computer use at work. No monitoring as my company would not have allowed it (secure network) .
I retired and moved to South Carolina where my PO there allowed me computer use only at my parents house. (no monitoring software) but allowed an internet connection where I lived with my sister. Within 6 months I asked for a new cellphone and wanted a smart phone. I was allowed which had unlimited dta connection. It wasn't only a few months after that that I was allowed full computer use... again no monitoring software. My PO said he knows that all financial/medical transactions are online and that I could have gone anywhere to do this and he would not have known. Better to know my own connection.
One should remember that even though you may not have any monitoring software installed that they are still watching you! (Can you say NSA?) This is done at the ISP level. Raise some flags and a human will get involved. Your PO will be notified....
I now have to drive my son 30 minutes across Philly so he can sit at the police station for hours just to give them his email address..
I'm hoping that soon they'll let him have a smartphone as well. One step at a time.
Your son does not have to go to the Belmont Barracks. I know it's the closest. It is also the slowest. You can go to any State Police Barracks. There is one in Media and another in Trevose. There are more but these are the ones I know.
As for the software, yes it will trigger the simplest things. He will have to watch for words that have double meanings.