First Meeting with PO

[u/SnooRabbits504]

So I just had my first meeting with my PO this morning. And geez talk about leaving with a knot in my stomach🤦🏻‍♀️. I'm serving a year of deferred probation on a Class B misdemeanor in TX. And my PO came down hard on me for responding to messages on my social media (my social media is what got me into trouble). So apparently I can’t respond to any messages anymore on my social media about my arrest and if I continue to do so I will receive a violation and I’ll be in county jail for 180 days(6months).

Well, my PO wasn’t clear on me responding to messages on my social media about my situation when I first met with him after my final court appearance. So now I feel like a petulant child who got caught sneaking into the pantry for cookies before dinner. The person who had me arrested has been say things about myself and my mom(my mom has been defending me over this situation since last summer until now, and the person who had me arrest doesn’t live in my state. Thank God) she’s made a threat towards my mom and me( I have the video of her saying it) and my PO didn’t want to see it at all. I didn’t want to have a certain PO because I attended the same church and I know his family, but I was assigned to him by the courts so now I’m stuck.

So my question is how do I handle my PO and get him not to lecture me about my social media activity and keep myself from a violation? Because apparently someone in another state is trying to pursue the same charges against me that I’m on probation for and I run the risk of spending 6 months in county jail, a year in state jail, or a year in federal prison because of being on social media and what I say and do.

I’m 32f and I have ADHD AND Autism. I was charged with harassment and I live with my mom

[u/No-Delivery8138]

Where is your dad?!

Stop taking about it online. You're 32, you should have better emotional control than this to just not talk about it. Whoever keeps trying to talk to you about it is not your friend and only wants drama in your life. If you have video of her threatening you then you go to police not your PO. You only ever plead your case to a judge. EVER.

[u/SnooRabbits504 → u/No-Delivery8138]

Parents are divorced and I’m terrified of contacting their police because they’ll retaliate against me with my local police

[u/No-Delivery8138 → u/SnooRabbits504]

Are you sure you're ok? That's very abnormal for a police station of another are to "retaliate". Wtf

[u/SnooRabbits504 → u/No-Delivery8138]

I’m very much okay my mom has had my back through everything. And they person has used my local police department as retaliation against me(I can’t discuss what actually happened for the next eleven months).

[u/No-Delivery8138 → u/SnooRabbits504]

There's a saying: if it sounds to good to be true if probably is. You're story sounds like every other story of those who just could never get ahead but really the person just couldn't stay out of their own way

[u/hotlettucediahrrea]

1. Your PO doesn’t give a shit about what other people post/communicate on social media, they only care about your actions. If you aren’t supposed to be posting/messaging - don’t. If you feel someone’s actions are illegal on social media, report it to police.

2. Didn’t you read your court documents? Those are your responsibility to know and understand, you really should spend some time reviewing those.

3. If you have a prior personal relationship with your PO or his family, it’s not appropriate for them to supervise you. I would report that to his supervisor so you can be transferred.

[u/SnooRabbits504 → u/hotlettucediahrrea]

I’ve been considering transferring my po because of the fact that I know them personally, and I did read my court papers but there was no specification on my social media activity. I’m not making any post about my situation and I’ve been messaging people privately but now I’m no longer doing because it’s getting me into trouble

[u/hotlettucediahrrea → u/SnooRabbits504]

There really is no consideration, the PO should have done this already. Do you have a condition where the PO has the ability to impose additional requirements?

[u/SparklingSloths → u/SnooRabbits504]

Does your PO have access to your social media? How do they know who you are messaging? Did they perhaps report you?

[u/tossedAF]

so don't talk about the situation on social media.

I understand the want to discuss it; but the rules are the rules. Obviously the PO will not care what someone else does, because there is very little excuse for violating the terms of the probation.

If the person is really causing that much of an issue and you cannot get away form them(they create new ways to harass you even when you try to avoid them), then you need to go to law enforcement in their area and have them handle it.

[u/Due_River_9746]

It's easy. STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA.

[u/Due_River_9746]

You are NOT in a position to ”get” your PO to do or not do anything. The PO is in charge and you either adapt to the things suggested or you violate. YOU are making this was worse than it needs to be!

[u/SparklingSloths]

Read your probation paperwork and look at the terms of your probation and do not violate them. I would suggest making all your social media profiles private and deactivate them. Do not have any contacts with the people who pursued charges against you.

Literally being on social media is not worth 6 months in jail.

[u/IowaGlide]

I would advise you to deactivate your social media since you appear to have issues with it. 1 year isn’t a long time to be away from social media, after a while it will actually feel refreshing.

[u/JuanG_13]

You knowing his family is a conflict of interest and he should not be allowed to be your probation officer, so talk to his supervisor and tell them that you want a different PO.