My son was picked up in September for six state jail offenses, and one TDC felony (all done in one night). He was taken to County, awaiting trial. He agreed to a plea deal of 6 years' probation, 3 months' boot camp, and to 3 months for a county charge (which he has already completed). He caught chain to Byrd Unit on December 15th. This is his first involvement with the system. He is a young, first-time felony offender.

I called the 1-936----- whatever number it is, and it's the automated line. I put in his TDC number, and there were several options for inquiries: one of them how much time is to be served; another being first date for parole consideration; and the third being date of release. I pressed the option for expected release date and it said April 1, 2007. I was in *shock*! :eek: Maybe I should be put in "shock probation", eh? I then pressed the option to find out his total sentence, and it said six years.

According to my son, he will complete his 90 days around March 15th or 16th. Could the computer just be wrong, or is my son not telling me the truth? I talked to his lawyer right after the plea deal, and he told me the same thing. However, could it be that no one carefully looked at the actual paper before signing the plea deal, and he could really be serving SIX YEARS? :(

Couldn't talk to anyone because they were closed. But has anyone else had this type of problem (if there is one) with the computer having the wrong information? I hope to God it's just a computer mistake.

Faux Goddess

It could very well be a computer error/or human error. I would call the unit in the morning and ask for classification and talk with the officer.

Call the TDCJ main classification number 936.437.8942 I once received the message that my husband's number was invalid and there was no such inmate. I got so excited I hung up and couldn't get through to the automated line again. I hope this is just a computer glitch, let us know what you find out.

Thank you very much. I will try again in the morning when I can get a person on the line. I called over to his Father's house, and they're all in an uproar over there and trying to get the lawyer on the line. I feel sorry for the lawyer....:cool:

Faux Goddess

I hope it helps, and I hope the lawyer was telling the truth.

Crack -- this is just a learning question -- why would they send someone to TDCJ for 90 days? Why not just let him serve it at county?

I dont know TX system, but could it mean it will be 6 years of prison if he screws up? I know what I am trying to say, but I dont know if it will come out right or not, but in Idaho our DOC site has a lookup. Even the ones on probation are listed. And it shows all of their time even though thats not what they are serving. It more less is saying the 6 years is his sentance and if he messes up on probation thats what he will serve.

As far as the April 2007 date when you are thinking it should be 2006 I dont know. That could be a error.

I did not even think of that, what you could be hearing is that the probation is counting as jail time, I know this is done in some cases but not very often. Thanks for the wake up TNC!

I think TNC is right - he probably has a six-year-sentence-suspended, which means he will be out and on felony probation with six years hanging over his head if he messes up. But that's what it would be in CA - don't know about TX.

good luck,

Jessica

Sounds to me as if he's been put on shock probation. They will put him in TDC for 90 days- and pull him out- then he'll be on probation for the remainer of the 6year sentence. But is seems to be a bit "secretive" they don't want the offender to know exactly when he is getting out- so this might explain the dates. Just a thought.

Hi there:


Just thought I would keep you posted about what is happening. I called TDC over in Huntsville this morning. I got the automated line, and entered his number. They said he was in "Robertson Unit" in Abilene. I had addressed his mail to Huntsville, so I had to quickly cross *that* out, with the stamp on it already, and wrote in the Robertson address. I then called again, and was transferred to another department to talk to a live person. I asked her was this to be his "permanent unit"? She said yes, and gave me the address, again, to the Robertson unit. I called up there and they told me that he was just placed there over night, and would be transfered today.

I then called his cousin and gave her the new address to write to him, and we got to talking about how we didn't think there was a "boot camp" at Robertson, that we had always heard that it was at Childress. So I called again. Another lady at TDC said that he was at the Robertson Unit, but would be transferred today to the Roach Boot Camp in Childress. She gave me the number up there. The lady up there at Roach said he had been there since last week. Good heavens! I then asked her about specific visiting times, etc. She said people driving over 300 miles can have two four hour visits: one on Sat. and one on Sunday, but that that could only be once a month.

From what I understand, and I don't understand a whole lot about this goofy prison system, is: he is still under "indeterminate" sentencing. He is going to the boot camp as a type of "shock probation", and that when he gets out he will go in front of the Judge again for a final sentence. Then he could be put on felony probation for six years, if the Judge *says* he can. No guarantees. If he messes up on his boot camp, he'll just go do the time.

His dates were entered into the computer as if he was doing time there already, but that if he messes up, he will go back and do the full six years *in* TDC. This time he's doing will NOT count toward a final sentence. They do it to save time in case he messes up, which he probably will do unless he changes his ways.

It seems that they make it so hard on felony probationers. I am hoping that while he is on probation he will get a job and just settle down. He wrote me a letter and said that TDC is "nothing." Hmmm... doesn't sound like he's that frightened of spending so much time away from the people that love him. I'm pretty mad about him not taking this so seriously, or maybe he just doesn't tell his Mother much. Who knows... Anyway, I know where he is, for sure, now, and I know what the computer says wasn't a glitch, but just a "prep" for when he gets back, if he does.

Thanks all of you for helping me understand alot of things... like, one, how this system is just full of people that could care less about how their information affects people that are innocent.

Faux Goddess

P.S. After crossing out the Byrd Unit address, I addressed the mail to the Robertson Unit.. the envelope was too small to hold any more crossed out and added addresses. I did manage to peel the stamp off without it tearing and stick it on a new envelope. God bless the tree that supplied the paper for this silly human nonsense. :thumbsup:

We have a boot camp here in Idaho and it works the same way. Its between 120-180 days. The camp gives a recomendation when you finish then you are sent back to the judge. From what I've seen as long as you behave and finish the program you will get out. I dont know about TX, but if it helps you any I will say that I've never seen or heard of a judge not releasing someone who has finished the program here.

However as you said if he messes up after he is out he does have that sentance hanging over his head.

Thanks TNC! I've appreciated your input, as well as the others'. Congratulations on your impending nuptials!

I have no doubt that he will finish the boot camp, as required, because he tends to do well in structured situations. It's just that when he's out, he thinks that he can do whatever he wants. That's where I think he will mess up, I pray to God and carry him that he won't, though. He even told me "Mommmmm! If you mess up once or twice on probation, they don't care, they just put you in jail for a few weeks." Hmm... that was when he first got incarcerated at County.
His Father was in prison for 18 months in the TDC system, and although he never went back to TDC, he did get in some problems later in life because of his distinct mistrust and lack of respect for authority, namely domestic abuse with his second wife. I've had my own legal problems, but it only took once (on probation) to realize that if you do something wrong, you will pay for it. The kid's got criminals on *both* sides of the family, and I hope he doesn't make a career out of it. He's got a high IQ, but that doesn't count for much when you have no respect for authority.

He did become very Christian in county, but now he seems to have lost that zeal for the word of god... and is back to his old self, not really believing in anything, and kind of just going where the wind takes him. I hope that for his sake he gets soemthing he can cling to. Miracles do happen...

Anyway... once again, thank you *all* for your invaluable input and I hope to become part of the PTO family!

Faux Goddess

Congratulations on your impending nuptials!
Thank you!!


If you mess up once or twice on probation, they don't care, they just put you in jail for a few weeks." Hmm...
Quite honestly that scares me. Its the ones with this attitude that take advantage and sooner or later their nine lives run out. With any luck he will get a probation officer that wont give him any extra rope. I never thought I would say that, but it sounds like if he has a little extra then he just may run with it.

He's got a high IQ, but that doesn't count for much when you have no respect for authority.
That is so true

I am glad that you have at least found him and that he is at the boot camp. I wil pray for him to do good at the boot camp so he can come home. Love jeanne

I work for an attorney:eek: and I don't know about your particular county.. but in Johnson ... and I am certain it is this way everywhere.... you go down to your local courthouse or go to his lawyer's office and request a copy of the judgment in your particular case.... You don't have to be a paralegal to understand them... Besides a 6 year probation seems odd especially on a felony charge... Start with the judgment.. many times information is put into the system incorrectly and it may take the District Clerk to forward the judgment to the appropriate authorities... Judgments are public information and you may have to pay a few bucks.. but it's worth it..

My son is in the ROach Boot Camp and I hear that it is ....... not at all what he was expecting..

Hope this helps...

Yep this was the attitude that my son had....but not since he has been locked up since the 10th of Feb. If you need a rehad for him (I am guessing its drugs) I know of one that is based on ability to pay. It is faith based residential. I help them out with grant writing and fundraising. You could get the court to order him there for a year as part of his probation agreement. e-mail privately if you want the details.