Families of SOs Community Group

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Nakohichi 07/02/2018

So, my son is going to hit 5 years Jan 3rd, of his 15 years probation. Can I also say that probation is driving him crazy?

Our Floriduh lawyer, the one we used there when he was sentenced, says he should get a poly.. we fought the court to not make him take one and won. As well as a new SO evaluation and suggested he fly to Floriduh for 1 day to get it from the guy who did the 1st one almost 10 years ago.. then the cost was $2500. Well, why would it be different than the 1st one, he was innocent and the 1st evaluation actually got him off SO treatment. I'm looking at maybe another $10K .. thing is I like this lawyer and he knows the case. He says if we don't do all this follow up to show my son's improvement (again, he was innocent so..) then asking for a reduction of the 15 years to 5 would probably be a waste of time.

The lawyer we have up here is ok but doesn't really know the case as well. I could have him do it.

I know the PO can do it at no cost, but POs suck and my son doesn't even want to ask him at this point.

The Floriduh lawyer is used to Floriduh and the scorched earth there .. so maybe all that is needed. I'm thinking he might not realize how different Philly is?

Or am I fooling myself and my son to think he can get off in 5 years. For my son's sanity I want to do this. I think it could get cut back to 5. 15 years was total overkill when he was sentenced. Even when my son went in to probation office when he first got out the PO, who isn't his now said he should petition the court after the 1st year and every year after. When he went to registration this year the cop there noticed how much time he had and without being asked, told him he could get this cut back.

I needed to get this out. I'm going to move forward with it. . just have to speak with my son tomorrow and see which lawyer he wants to use.

thanks for listening and any feedback is welcome,

Nak

faeryedark 07/04/2018

Shame you can't move over here to Franklin County. The PO's seem alot better. My husband's PO let him off half way through...in fact, that's generally what they do with ALL their cases, if your fines and fees are paid up. Now with being an SO, he also had to complete his SO group therapy thing but the therapist/facilitator whatever was happy to sign off

Nakohichi 07/05/2018

My son is on his 4th PO.. I don't think most are there to support him. It's my son's 1st lawyer who suggested going thru all that. But we're just going to go with our 2nd lawyer and request his probation get cut back.
I've done a lot more research and .. If you want your PO to do it you have to wait until you're half way done. OR you can petition after he's finished his 1st year if you use a lawyer. So, we'll go that way. thanks!

Nakohichi 07/05/2018

Oh, my son didn't have SO treatment. He didn't have to take it! at least 1 thing he didn't have to go thru.

faeryedark 07/05/2018

That's good! My hubby only had 3 years on probation so not much point in fighting over 6 mos difference. He had to do the SO treatment but it worked to his benefit cos the facilitator dude was nice, no polys, and the group could be used as a network to find work, which helped alot when he first got out of jail

Nakohichi 07/06/2018

My son had 30 months in prison and then the FL judge stuck 15 years probation at the end of it.. kindof overkill. My son didn't have to take polys because he didn't take treatment. One of his POs tried to get him to take a poly because he wanted to see if he was looking stuff up on his phone.. which was ridiculous. We took it to court, cost me $5K and the PA judge ended up spending 30 minutes just yelling at the PO for wasting everyones time. My son is innocent,.
So taking SO treatment and having to admit you did something wouldn't have worked out for him . Saving up now and going to petition the court in about 3 weeks. There is such a difference from state to state. My son's 'crime' and jail was Floriduh but here in Philly they don't see it as being so extreme a crime. When my son got released and came up here the lawyers we saw were shocked they even arrested him. But you know cops and our government. Once they accuse you of something they never back down.

But 15 years on probation.. means no internet , no social life if you don't even have a smart phone. No one can text him.. he feels odd telling someone he just has a crappy phone from 10 years ago and cant go to Facebook to hook up or even get a text. I know.. they could monitor a computer but who wants them watching you? He was innocent when they watched him the first time. well... I'm rambling.

faeryedark 07/08/2018

Wow! My hubby could have both, here in Franklin County, just had to permit access if the PO demanded it, which he never did

faeryedark 07/08/2018

Wow! My hubby could have both, here in Franklin County, just had to permit access if the PO demanded it, which he never did

Nakohichi 07/09/2018

sure, my son could have internet, but then they monitor him. I wouldn't want to be monitored. which also means no smart phones.. try to get a text on a phone that was made 15 years ago ;) He gets some but it's limited.
If he accidentally looks at something he didn't want, which is what happened to him in the first place, is not something we want to fight over.

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