THE PROBATION TRAP

We walked the empty hallways of the REGJB Monday, our Allen Edmonds (rubber soles) echoing off of near empty floors. Our tailor made Sam's Suit (from Hong Kong-tell Manu we sent you) flapping in the empty breeze. Our Judges are at a very important and significant conference. At great personal expense we have obtained the schedule:

Sunday 5pm: Registration and cocktail hour on the veranda. Shrimp Cocktails and Mojitos!
Monday 6am-9am: Breakfast buffet and mimosas. 
Monday 9:15 Opening Address: "Enhancing sentences after trial: the word will get out. And you will get on the golf course earlier."
Monday: 9:30-11:30. "Avoiding judicial vindictive appeals. The EZ way to enhance a sentence after trial. "
Monday: 12:00-3:00. Lunch on the veranda. Rum Runners!!
Monday 3:15-5:00. "Top o' the day- Top o' the guidelines. "
Monday 5:01-6:00. Happy Hour!
Monday: dinner. On your own. 
Tuesday: Breakfast Buffet and mimosas. 
Tuesday: 9:15-11:00. "Willams Rule. Opening the floodgates. "
Tuesday 11:10-2:00 Lunch. Roast Beef carving station and wine tasting. 
Tuesday 2:00-4:00. "Panel Discussion: Broward Judges and DUI. Put down that beer and pick up you gavel."
Tuesday 4:00-5:00 power nap. OR…Downloading games on your computer on your bench. 
Tuesday: 6:00-8:00 pm. Dinner. Lobster fest!
Wednesday. Breakfast Buffet and mimosas. 
Wednesday 9:15 Keynote address: Striking the motion to suppress. "There's more than one way to say denied."
Wednesday 11:00 Special Guest Speaker: "Working 10-3 with two hours for lunch? You need a raise!"
Wednesday 12:15-2:00 Lunch. Taco Bar and cerveza. 
Wednesday: 2:15-5:00 Ethics:  A) Don't reach for that check!; 
B) Bond hearings when attorneys support your opponent; 
C) Broward Judges/Miami Lawyers- the Ying and Yang of law. 

It's going to be a great conference. Expect your judges to return refreshed and ready to punish    preside over defendants who request jury trials. 



The NY Times here has an article on the unseen dangers of probation. 

We all know them. The excessive fees and costs. The surrender of almost all fourth amendment  rights. 
The intransigent probation officers and the endless miles of bureaucratic red tape. 

For the most part actually, to give credit where credit is due, most probation officers and Supervised Release officers we have encountered are fairly reasonable and have given our clients more breaks than required before filing the violation affidavit and heading to court. 

Despite the problems and steep financial penalties heaped upon those who can usually afford it least, if we are going to ride the trend on sentencing reform, probation is going to become more prevalent not less. 

Boy is it hot out.