I've been blogging about probation lately, so I thought I'd share advice I give my clients when they are on probation.  These items pertain to what happens right after someone has been sentenced:

1. If your sentence includes jail or work release, and you do not have to report to jail right after court, do not show up at the jail with alcohol on your breath or drugs in your system.  Make sure the judge knows about prescription medications in court.

• The first thing the warden does at the Work Release Program is test you for drugs.
  • If you are not "clean," you will not be admitted to work release; you will be sent to the detention center for however long the warden decides; you have no right to a hearing or an attorney when the warden makes his decision.
  • If you do not think you will pass the drug test, tell your attorney BEFORE you agree on a report date.
  • Many drugs stay in your system for days, weeks or even a month after you take them.  Drinking water or taking "supplements" changes nothing.

2. Pay your fees and fines to probation on time.

• If you have no money, report to probation and tell your officer why you are not making a payment.
• A judge is never authorized to revoke probation because you CANNOT pay; a judge is authorized to revoke probation because you WILL NOT pay.
• The probation officer and judge think you are spending all of your money buying/selling/taking drugs.  Prove them wrong.