[__ Prayer __] probation paranoia

[Christ_empowered]

I pled guilty to a serious ("Class A") misdemeanor just over 3 years ago. I was given a suspended sentence and 5 years probation. I've been on my very best behavior with probation and all, plus I got saved right after I was charged (I know, sounds convenient and all. It is what it is...), so the probationary period has also been a time of growth and change for me, at all levels.

The last time I went into the probation office last week, the clerk/cashier lady looked up my info and called the probation officer. She told me to take my money home with me and said that if the officer needed anything, he'd call me. So, I waited a couple days and called back on a Friday and asked the officer himself what was up.

He told me (and I've looked up the law on this, he's telling the truth) that here in this state, eligible offenders on probation get 20 days added credit for each 30 days of a probation sentence completed. This is a 1st offense "Class A" misdemeanor, so I'm eligible. He said he thought I'd be done in late January, but it was really late December 2016.

I asked him if I'd get something in the mail or something, and he said No (weird). He also said that they'd "purged" my information (weird). This state has a website where you can search to find people on probation. My name is no longer on the database.

Now, I'm nervous because I assumed I'd get something in writing. I keep suspecting trickery, but then I think: what could they possibly gain by all that? Plus, they refused to take my $$$, which is odd enough anyway, but would be extra weird if they're up to something.

Please pray. I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I just live with my (loving, kind, long suffering, amazing) people (I have severe mental problems, btw), and pretty much mind my own business. I haven't even gotten a speeding ticket while on probation (I did, however, get a seat belt violation, lol).

I just...don't...understand. I don't get why they haven't given me something in writing that says "hey, wow...you're free now!," but then again, I probably should just rejoice because (it appears) I'm off probation nearly 2 years early.

I dunno. I'm eligible for sealing this whole mess, and I've asked my dad to get on it and get in touch with the attorney he hired to represent me when it was ongoing. He's kinda dragging his feet on it, and I don't think he understands how its making me feel crazy.

Thanks for your replies+prayers.

 

[Eugene]

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Praying for the joy of your salvation to be realized, and the peace that passes understanding to accompany your walk in Christ. In Christ you are already home with Him in the heavenlies; get used to it. Eph 2:6.

 

[Angel]

Hey C_E

Can you ask the secretary to send you a document stating your release? I doubt Law enforcement would play games with you. That's the gov! They wouldn't mess with you- especially if they wanted money from you. I think maybe you are feeling this way because of neighbors and bad luck with mental health services. Honestly, I'd be concerned too but try to keep busy. You'll forget about it at least for awhile.

Praying you get better and that you receive a document.

Maria

 

[AirDancer]

Have your attorney get the release document(s) for you, Christ_empowered.

 

[Edward]

I wouldn't worry about it. Start celebrating your freedom.

I was on probation for 2 years just a few years ago, for some minor stuff, because they seen a chance to make some money.

It was same way with me, I didn't get into trouble and paid off my fines and stuff, so they lost interest in me. I didn't get a shred of paperwork about it. Only a receipt showing that I didn't owe them any money.

That there is the important thing, documentation showing all the fines were paid and a zero balance. I've heard of them "losing" their documentation and sending a letter a few years later demanding payment. So hang onto those receipts!

 

[Christ_empowered]

Hi. Me again.

My dad emailed the lawyer who handled the case. Turns out...well, I needn't be in such a big rush, lol. He didn't mean 3 years after the conviction; he meant 3 years after successful completion of probation. --sigh--

Still, I didn't get a felony and 3 years from now, dude man says he can have it off most background checks for under $400, which is kind of him.

My dad is going to email him now about getting me some kind of written documentation that I am, in fact, no longer on probation. That'll put my mind at ease, for sure.

Thanks for all the prayers+support.

 

[AirDancer]

Amen, Christ_empowered, amen!

 

[Politico]

I pled guilty to a serious ("Class A") misdemeanor just over 3 years ago. I was given a suspended sentence and 5 years probation. I've been on my very best behavior with probation and all, plus I got saved right after I was charged (I know, sounds convenient and all. It is what it is...), so the probationary period has also been a time of growth and change for me, at all levels.

The last time I went into the probation office last week, the clerk/cashier lady looked up my info and called the probation officer. She told me to take my money home with me and said that if the officer needed anything, he'd call me. So, I waited a couple days and called back on a Friday and asked the officer himself what was up.

He told me (and I've looked up the law on this, he's telling the truth) that here in this state, eligible offenders on probation get 20 days added credit for each 30 days of a probation sentence completed. This is a 1st offense "Class A" misdemeanor, so I'm eligible. He said he thought I'd be done in late January, but it was really late December 2016.

I asked him if I'd get something in the mail or something, and he said No (weird). He also said that they'd "purged" my information (weird). This state has a website where you can search to find people on probation. My name is no longer on the database.

Now, I'm nervous because I assumed I'd get something in writing. I keep suspecting trickery, but then I think: what could they possibly gain by all that? Plus, they refused to take my $$$, which is odd enough anyway, but would be extra weird if they're up to something.

Please pray. I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I just live with my (loving, kind, long suffering, amazing) people (I have severe mental problems, btw), and pretty much mind my own business. I haven't even gotten a speeding ticket while on probation (I did, however, get a seat belt violation, lol).

I just...don't...understand. I don't get why they haven't given me something in writing that says "hey, wow...you're free now!," but then again, I probably should just rejoice because (it appears) I'm off probation nearly 2 years early.

I dunno. I'm eligible for sealing this whole mess, and I've asked my dad to get on it and get in touch with the attorney he hired to represent me when it was ongoing. He's kinda dragging his feet on it, and I don't think he understands how its making me feel crazy.

Thanks for your replies+prayers.

Praying.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Thanks for the prayers, everyone!

My dad got with the lawyer and he said he could try to get it expunged asap, since its been 3 years since the conviction. I think it may be one of those things where SC law isn't clear, as is...well, as is often the case, lol.

So, the lawyer will do the expungement at cost, just the filing fees and everything else the loverly state of SC tacks on to clear a record. He's a good man, that attorney.

AND...his paralegal got the probation people to sign an official letter confirming my early discharge from probation! That's --huge-- for me. BTW, it turns out I've been off probation since December 14th. Weird.

Thanks again for all those prayers.

 

[AirDancer]

Excellent news, Christ_empowered ! Thank you for the update that demonstrates answer to prayers!

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks, AirDancer.

I recognize that my sins were serious enough to be criminal, and I think I've "learned my lesson" about obeying the law and taking the prescribed treatments for my...errr...problem (current label: "Bipolar I").

So, yeah...learned my lesson, all right. A felony was a very real possibility, even with a skilled attorney. "Uppity mental patients" seem to really anger southerners, for some reason. To be fair, in more "progressive" places, I'd be in a state hospital for an extended vacay. --sigh--

And yet...God is good! I haven't even gotten a speeding ticket while on probation (although I did get a seat belt violation...). The Lord has changed me so much that I honestly think I don't need to be on probation. I don't drink, do drugs, live an immoral lifestyle, etc. etc. etc.

All in all, I realize that I'm blessed. I'm beginning to appreciate God's work in my life more. Its easier, now that I'm --not-- on probation, because the stress of having one foot in a jail cell is off my mind, Praise God (!!!).

But...yeah. I'm particularly happy about being blessed with the signed, official letter stating that I've successfully completed probation early. That's --huge--, for me, because I really wanted+needed some kind of documentation that I'd been set free. The only thing that bothers me about all that is that I wasn't going to be given any documentation. I only have the letter because the paralegal from the law firm called and got it for us. What about all the probationers who had public defenders? See what I'm saying?

Rambling...thanks, everyone, for the ongoing support+prayers. Jesus is #1 when it comes to setting people free from all sorts of bondage, and now that I'm off probation (by His grace, of course...), I see that I've been set free from all kindsa bondage, and I've only been saved 4 years.

 

[AirDancer]

I agree with your thought about the letter, Christ_empowered . Each and every person who has successfully completed probation should receive a letter stating that. It shouldn't take a lawyer in order to have that document.

I'm glad you've received the document, though. Please put it in a safe deposit box after you've made a couple of copies of it. The original needs to be protected.....just in case.

Our Lord is marvelous!

 

[Christ_empowered]

hey again, AirDancer.

I don't know what's up with me not getting a letter until the paralegal made some calls. I hope this isn't how they treat everybody. I'm not exactly well-liked around here, and I kinda got a surly vibe off my new probation officer, so...I dunno. Then again, I don't think they ---have--- to give probationers the compliance credits, so I my probation officers must not have had that big a problem with me. I dunno.

Could be laziness. Here in SC, its odd. They passed sentencing reform legislation in 2010. Most crimes are now handled less harshly, but violent crimes are handled with longer sentences, less parole, etc. The goal is/was to save the state money and get more offenders back into the community, into jobs, etc.

Problem is...SC doesn't like to spend $$$. Period. So, there are people on probation who ideally shouldn't be on probation. The probation agents are over-worked and not very well-paid, either. Because the goal is to save the state $$$, when probationers violate the terms of their probation, the goal is to handle the situation without using the courts, jails and/or prisons, if possible. Again, its a great idea, and it works for a lot of offenders (this guy, for instance, lol), but there are already problems popping up, with people who should not be in the community being in the community, while some people are still going to jail and/or prison for more minor offenses, and...ugh. Criminal justice system, its always gonna have problems.

Rambling. Point is, they could have denied the letter because I'm low-status, stigmatized, and not at all well-liked around here. Or, it could be "nothing personal," and the probation officer is/was over-worked and just didn't feel like it. I dunno. Wasn't right, whatever the reason(s).

I'm beginning to finally realize that I was spared a felony, spared jail and/or prison time, and now released successfully from probation nearly 2 years early not because I "deserved" it or whatever, but because God is good (all the time). People have to plea to felonies when a lesser charge would be more appropriate all the time, all over the US. I was spared that. I was also spared a "not guilty by reason of insanity" (NGRI) plea deal, which in SC means 120 days in what remains of the state hospital, followed by supervised, outpatient treatment for however long the court decides is necessary. NGRI verdicts cannot be expunged, from what I understand. Its better than GBMI--guilty, but mentally ill--but hardly an ideal outcome.

So...yeah. God is good! I got (genuinely, bona fide, no; for real!) saved shortly after being bonded out. The Lord started changing me ASAP, which is one reason I was spared a felony and/or NGRI. I do have severe mental problems, but I don't meet the criteria for full on "narcissistic personality disorder," which is a miracle. Full-on NPD is generally the core of who a person is; in order to stop being NPD--not just mellowed out NPD, not just NPD+behavioral modification, but genuinely --not-- NPD--requires transformation, not "treatment." Secular, worldly mental health people not only can't do that, they're really not all that interested in helping NPD-ers, anyway. The NPD label is highly stigmatizing, btw.

But, now I"m not NPD, which is to say I've been transformed already, and I've only been genuinely saved 4 years. The Bipolar I seems to be here to stay, sadly. :-(

OK. I'm finished now. Thanks for the replies+prayers.

 

[AirDancer]

I would imagine it's standard procedure in your State to not send out letters once probations have been completed. Your file would have listed the attorney you had; therefore, if letters were normally sent out, because you had an attorney, you would have received a letter.

Your State isn't the only one that seems to be handing out more probation than jail time. Illinois has quickly gone that route as well. Former felon in possession of an unmarked gun when arrested in the course of a crime? Add 6 months probation to the existing 5 months remaining on a probation. Steal from a store? Probation. Breaking and entering a private home? Probation. Commit domestic violence? Probation.

Since our Lord isn't finished with you yet, I wouldn't recommend any thoughts that the Bipolar I will be a permanent aspect of your life. After a serious head injury, it took me about a year to learn how to read again. Now, several years later, I'm back to reading & comprehending at a 98% rate. Am still a wee bit dyslexic with numbers, but even that is correcting as time and continued work goes along. Our Lord isn't finished with me yet, either. But He certainly knows what He's doing. And the doors He's opened for me have been amazing!

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks (yet again), AirDancer!

Probation can be a good option. The problem is that some people get probation when something else would have been better for society. What's weird to me is that a lot of the probation nightmare stories coming out of SC involve people who clearly had extensive histories --and-- probably used a public defender. I don't get it. The probation violation issue is another thing I don't get. Some hardcore people seem to slip through the cracks, while less serious offenders get hammered if they mess up just once. --sigh--

Sorry about your head injury, btw. I am, however, happy that The Lord has moved (is moving, I pray will move) mightily in your life. It gives me hope, that's for sure.

I agree with you about addressing the Bipolar I (or...whatever...) for this season of my life, but not getting too stuck in the idea that its permanent. I'm not so sure it is, now that I think about it, and I don't know that I even would have been that "sick" if it hadn't been for a mix of my own sins and the rough side of psychiatry.

I had a bad head injury, too. I was bashed on the head w/ a pipe in the ghetto of a southern city. Rough times. The next night I was given electroshock, which is...special. Anyway, I kinda sorta have an understanding of some things you must have gone through (or I imagine...). Your posts are well-written and insightful, so its clear that The Lord has done a mighty work in your mind already.

I am just now realizing that I --very-- much a work-in-progress. In my electroshocked fairy land, I thought being healthy, being smart enough for my goals, being normal(ish) would be the end point. Turns out...well, The Lord is good to His children. I've only been saved 4 years, and all these things have been added unto me, and...I think its really the beginning of a real life, my life in Christ.

OK. Finished now. As always, thanks for the repsonses+support+prayers.

 

[AirDancer]

Oh, just a quick post script.........

Talked with a person who had electroshock after a serious head injury (....when waiting one's appointment with the neurologist, one sometimes gets into discussions with the person sitting close by). She said she was in a vegetative state after the assault; the electroshock triggered her brain back into active gear. She, too, experienced several years to regain her usual life, and during the rehab years, she became a Christian. She said it was amazing how our Lord has worked in her life!

Amen!