My son was picked up for a probation violation and I was wondering if there was a certain time that his probation officer has to contact him or how long he can sit in jail without any info on what is going on. He has a job and he takes medication for biopolar and he can not take all of the medication prescribed for him cause of the jail rules. We have worked hard to get his condition under control and with out all of his meds it is like the last year of help we gave him will go out the window. The probation office will not talk to us since he is 18 and has no time when they will see him. He has missed a week of work and may lose his job so I was just curious if they had a legal time limit to inform him.

It sounds as if health issues may be one of the major concerns. If your son wants your intervention in this matter, one of the best ways to help may be to consult an attorney. I am guessing he is quite limited in his present situation as far as taking care of such matters is concerned. Your son's doctor might need to help you address your son's needed prescription dosage with the law enforcement agency, or at least provide in some manner the needed documentation for filing with the agency.

Disclaimer: This information is considered a legal opinion only in the sense that it is not considered an illegal one and that it is not considered illegal to have it or to express it. This is America! However, this opinion is not offered within the context of a professional-client relationship. Anyone acting upon this information assumes responsibility for the results of doing so.

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Originally Posted by thumper3

my son was picked up for a probation violation and i was wondering if there was a certain time that his probation officer has to contact him or how long he can sit in jail without any info on what is going on. he has a job and he takes medication for biopolar and he can not take all of the medication prescribed for him cause of the jail rules. we have worked hard to get his condition under control and with out all of his meds it is like the last year of help we gave him will go out the window. the probation office will not talk to us since he is 18 and has no time when they will see him. he has missed a week of work and may lose his job so i was just curious if they had a legal time limit to inform him.

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I don't know how it works in all areas, County jails, local jails, but the son of a friend of mine is bi-polar, is over 18, got picked up and was held for 2 days, she contacted an Attorney, the Attorney made an appointment with a Judge (informal, no paperwork), took a medical report AND the medication to chambers and the Judge ordered that the son be moved to the medical wing AND provided with medication as ordered and scheduled.

I believe - I wasn't there, the mother told me - that the Attorney advised that she would hold the County responsible for anything that happened to the son while he was off his meds and in jail because they were afraid he would become a moving target, so to speak, or suicidal.

I would go around the PO and directly to the authorities -

Hello t:

I too, am more concerned with his health rather than his freedom. I'd hire a lawyer to make sure he gets the proper medication... And THEN he can act as an advocate with the PO.

Jail rules that medically HURT someone are ILLEGAL.

excon

I was a preobation officer for seven years in MD. When one of my probationers was picked up and held in a jail, I received a computer-generated notice of the event. Why do you feel the probation officer needs to contact him if he is in jail? In my state a jailed probationer is placed in a "not available for supervision" status until they get out. The issue of medications has nothing to do with the probation officer. A person who is incarcerated is supposed to be provided with their prescribed medications by the detaining facility and if this is an issue, a lawyer should be notified.

You mentioned something about how long a person can sit in jail without being informed of what is going on. Again, this has nothing to do with the probation office, the charging jurisdiction, even a violation of probation case, should furnish him with documents advising him of the charges within whatever time limit is required in that jurisdiction.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thumper3

my son was picked up for a probation violation and i was wondering if there was a certain time that his probation officer has to contact him or how long he can sit in jail without any info on what is going on. he has a job and he takes medication for biopolar and he can not take all of the medication prescribed for him cause of the jail rules. we have worked hard to get his condition under control and with out all of his meds it is like the last year of help we gave him will go out the window. the probation office will not talk to us since he is 18 and has no time when they will see him. he has missed a week of work and may lose his job so i was just curious if they had a legal time limit to inform him.

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14 Days is the legal limit

Each state may have their own time, I know it can be over a month at times in places I have been and worked. And of course it is possible he will be sentenced to original jail time and/or so many months of jail. Or as in our state special probation detention centers.

The jail is required to provide needed medication, so an attorney should be retained at that point. He is not going to just get out because of health issues normally.