Hey guys, I've used this site before and all of your answers really helped me out - so I've come back to ask for some advice relating to a friend.

He's been caught shoplifting (misdemeanor) in Georgia and he's wondering if drug testing will be involved at all in his probation. Now when I was caught for shoplifting about two years ago, there was never a single drug test performed on me - and another person I know also was never drug tested. Is it standard procedure for drug testing to not be involved if the crime was unrelated to drugs? Or is it just on a case by case basis, and maybe me and my friend just slipped through the cracks.

Thanks in advance guys - you're all life savers (especially you father chuck - I seem to remember you giving me a lot of helpful advice when I was dealing with my own situation).

sorry no firm good answer, but yes in Georgia, most probation officers do some random testing on all people they are doing probation for. With many it may be the first visit, and the last visit and maybe one time between. For others it may be more. Remember if you are high when you go to a visit, they can tell often and decide to do more tests if needed.

so in GA, if you are on probatoin expect to see some drug tests

So you think myself and the other person I know simply fell through the cracks?

They are having some budget issues right now, so they may have had limited funds for the test kids.

But not to mean that shoplifting is OK, it is not, but on the aspect of the hard criminals, drug users, sellers, wife abusers, people who do assulat all of those terrorsts, some PO just care less about a shop lifter, they see you as a waste of their time, since they have twice as many people to supervise as they are suppose to.

Now some PO are just... ( fill in the blank) and do anything they can to make your life miserable

Thanks chuck. I appreciate you.

Don't assume that they won't test for drugs. Then can and will. Tell friend to be on the safe side and don't give them anything to test for in the first place.

I think it is a case by case and random.
If they trust a person is not doing drugs they may or may not test.
If they suspect a person is doing drugs they most likely will.
At least that is what it seems to me.

Thanks guys! If anyone else has any comments, let me know.