Do probation conditions often vary based on the severity of a crime? I ask because I just learned that based on a traffic court ruling (stay of adjudication for a car accident on buried black ice, not even a conviction), I need to submit notification whenever I travel outside my state for the next year, which seems a) useless for preventing similar incidents and b) like a lot of unnecessary paperwork for everyone involved. What purpose are such conditions supposed to serve?
God that's so ridiculous.
The purpose is: if you go out of state, you're just a lot harder to arrest later. Courts have such a hard-on for this condition. I'm so annoyed on your behalf.
The truth is, while there is some variation, a lot of it is exactly the same in its conditions and it simply depends on the probation officer to set the supervision level (are check-ins in person or by phone, any home visits, how often). In my state, the conditions of probation are conditions so standard that we know most all of them by number, because when we do probation violation cases it's a "condition 3 violation" or a "condition 1 violation" etc.
In my current jurisdiction, the only conditions that really vary are special conditions and drug testing conditions. If there's no allegations of drug use, there's no drug testing. Special conditions are like "follow the protective order," or "cooperate with the CPS investigation" or "complete domestic violence assessment and follow recommendations," things like that.
Felony probation also more serious than misdemeanor probation.
Probation is supposed to have many purposes; many judges will say it's a gift from the court and a chance to avoid jail time. If I ever get found in contempt, it's because I finally couldn't resist making the loud scoffing noise I want to make every time I hear that. Actually, it's to put you in the naughty corner, to humiliate you, to keep testing you to make sure you're on the Good Path, ostensibly possibly to help you? haha, and, systemically, to encase you in a trap of endless fees and requirements from which you never escape.
I would be less cynical, but probation is pointless and studies show it has no effect on community safety either for low-risk or high-risk offenders, or for juveniles. It's just depressing.
