What Does "Being on Probation" mean?

• As a result of your involvement in an offense, the Judge has placed you on probation and has allowed you to remain in your own home under parental and Family Court supervision. You are expected to cooperate with your parents, school officials, and your probation officer. Failure to do so may lead to further court appearances and placement outside your home
   

What is the probation officer's job?

• The probation officer is required to monitor each juvenile’s progress and compliance with the court order while on probation. In addition, the probation officer assists juveniles and their families in the resolution of problems they are experiencing at home, school, or in the community. This includes visits to the home and conversations with parent(s) regarding behavior. Also, the probation officer will meet with school officials and other agency professionals to assist in monitoring probationers’ behavior in the home, at school and in the community.

  Another role of the probation officer is to act as a referring agent. Referrals are made, based on individual need, to various community resources which may assist the probationer/family.
   

What kinds of probation are there?
 

• There are three types of probation:
   

  Formal probation is for individuals who are not considered high risk for placement. These youth can usually be managed within the home, often with support through counseling and other treatment programs.
   

  Consent Calendar Probation is informal probation for youth with no prior court history. The offense committed is usually not a felony and the youth are at low risk for placement out of the home. If the youth avoids further delinquency, his/her record may be expunged at age seventeen.
   

  Intensive Probation is for individuals who are at high risk for recidivism and out-of-home placement. These young people are generally chronic offenders, and some have been involved in the juvenile court system for a long period of time.

   

  If you are on formal or intensive probation, you will have a juvenile delinquency record through the Family Court until at least age 30. Many offenses require records be kept for life.
   

What are my probation rules?
 

• Your probation officer will review your specific probation rules with you and your parent(s) and provide you with a copy. However, there are four basic rules of probation:
   

  (1) Abide by the laws of the community and the State of Michigan;

  (2) Obey the rules of your parents;

  (3) Attend school regularly and perform satisfactorily; and

  (4) Keep all appointments with your probation officer.

   

  Additional probation rules can be added.
   

What other rules may be added to my probation?
 

• As a result of being placed on probation, there may be other orders given to a juvenile as a condition of his/her probation. Examples of these could be attending drug/alcohol treatment, anger management,  court-imposed curfew, community service work, restitution, court fines/fees, counseling, etc. When these types of programs are ordered, attendance is required. Failure to attend could result in a probation violation and possible placement outside the home (detention, group home, etc.).
   

What are my parent's responsibilities?
 

• To manage minor infractions through consistent disciplinary approaches;

• To report juvenile’s behavior when probation is being violated;

• To communicate honestly and openly with your probation officer;

• To provide transportation to court-ordered services;

• To comply with the Court’s orders.
   

How often do I report?
 

• As often as your probation officer requires.
   

What if I violate my probation?
 

• A number of things can happen if you violate probation, including placement in detention, extension of your probation, placement outside of your home, additional conditions to your probation, tether, residential placement, or any of the dispositional alternatives given to you at your hearing.
   

What are the Court imposed curfews?
 

• The standard Court curfews are as follows:

              Age            Weekdays      Friday & Saturday
             9-12            8:00 pm                 9:00 pm
           13-14            9:00 pm                 9:30 pm
              15               9:00 pm               10:30 pm
            16-17           9:00 pm               11:00 pm 
   

What other information should I know?
 

• If you move, you must notify the court/probation officer of your new address and telephone number.  You must obey the court-imposed curfew even when you are staying overnight with a friend or relative.

  Random drug and alcohol tests are a standard procedure for probation. Expect them to happen!
   

• Who is my probation officer and how can I reach him/her?
   

  • The type of probation you are on will determine who your probation officer will be.

  • Laura Watkins is the Director of Juvenile Services and supervises the probation staff.

  • Scott Fessenden is the Formal Probation Officer

  • Brendan Ruser is the Intensive Probation Officer

  • Andrea Bliss is the Consent Calendar, Probation Officer

     

    Your probation officer is usually in the office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can reach the officer by calling (231) 689-7275. If the officer is not available, you may leave a message on their voice mail.

     

  In an emergency after hours, call Central Dispatch at (231) 689-5288

  and a message may be forwarded to your probation officer, when available.