USA - What happens with non-reporting probation?

[Tryptamine]

Hello. Swim has recently been placed on non-reporting probation in the state of PA. He received 6 months probation-without-verdict for a summary offense (small marijuana possession).

Swim hasn't been informed what happens during this type of probation (The terms of probation paper he has received is not very specific), and it has been about 5 weeks since sentencing and no one from the probation office has contacted Swim. Swim would normally just call the office and ask these questions but he is afraid that these question will sound suspicious, and also has been smoking so would like avoid any contact with probation staff. When first entered the probation after the trial, they said "call in about 6 weeks."

My questions:

1) Why are they waiting six weeks?

2) Although Swim doesn't have to "report in person" to a probation officer, would the officer show up at the house suddenly to see Swim?

3) Do you think Swim will be drug tested automatically? If so, what would happen if he fails the first test?

4) One of the terms of probation is that the officer "may search the residence, car, person, etc."--- Does this mean that he will do so automatically, or only if/when suspicion arises? Also, does he need a search warrant if Swim is 'not home'?

Please be very specific as Swim has never been through the criminal justice system before. Any help is much appreciated.

[infekt]

swim has had a few friends put on non-reporting probation and they never got drug tested, no one came to their residence, all they really had to do was send a little write up to the PO every once in awhile. Of course, this may not apply to swiy but thats just swim's friends' experience


oh yeah and call the office, and don't ask them anything in specific but just tell them you want some more information, like what kind of things are required for this type of probation. Couldn't hurt really.

[lestat737]

Its exactly what the label states. Non reportive.

But.... since its drugs related swim would be clean for that six week call in. Never can be to carefull.

[Tryptamine]

Okay, Swim has called the PO. He seemed somewhat surprised that someone on non-reporting probation has called, then I told him that the general probation office instructed me to do so after 6 weeks. He stated that there was no need to contact him unless a conflict with the rules occured. He stated stay out of trouble, and did not mention anything about meeting him or drug testing.

Well, this was good news for Swim, but who knows he could be lying. For Swimmers who have gone through probation, has their PO ever lied to them, for example saying there is no drug test just to catch them using drugs again? What do swimmers think?

[shivakiva2112]

Hah, somebody is understandably paranoid. There should be a new disorder dubbed just for victims of the American judicial system. Persisting Perception of Probation Officer Deception Disorder or something, PPPODD, P-p-podd, I like it. Probation Officer Deception Persisting Perception Disorder PODPPD maybe.

Anyways, somebody else has been on this unsupervised (non-reportive SWIY say?) probation before and they can say, like the posters above, that it is just that, unsupervised.

Chiiiillll, it probably is wise to stay clean, or mostly clean, for the duration of probation, but really all unsupervised probation means is that if you get in trouble again, you're super fucked. Here I'm using 'you' in the general sense. They don't put people on unsupervised probation if they give a fuck what they're doing during probation.

Not saying it's impossible, it is just exceedingly unlikely that your P.O. will ever show up, ask you to pee in the cup, or lie to you, et cetera.

Forgot to mention, if someone were to trip out hard and act sketchy and do things like call the PO and ask relatively unusual and possibly pointed questions, it may raise an eyebrow and that would not be in that person's favor. Hint hint.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good advice, as well as entertaining.

[Vein_Banger]

Originally Posted by shivakiva2112

hah, somebody is understandably paranoid. There should be a new disorder dubbed just for victims of the american judicial system. Persisting perception of probation officer deception disorder or something, pppodd, p-p-podd, i like it. Probation officer deception persisting perception disorder podppd maybe.

Anyways, somebody else has been on this unsupervised (non-reportive swiy say?) probation before and they can say, like the posters above, that it is just that, unsupervised.

Chiiiillll, it probably is wise to stay clean, or mostly clean, for the duration of probation, but really all unsupervised probation means is that if you get in trouble again, you're super fucked. Here i'm using 'you' in the general sense. They don't put people on unsupervised probation if they give a fuck what they're doing during probation.

Not saying it's impossible, it is just exceedingly unlikely that your p.o. Will ever show up, ask you to pee in the cup, or lie to you, et cetera.

Forgot to mention, if someone were to trip out hard and act sketchy and do things like call the po and ask relatively unusual and possibly pointed questions, it may raise an eyebrow and that would not be in that person's favor. Hint hint.

haha love it pppodd!!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!