What you might be able to expect from Harris County Probation and Washinton County Courts in Texas

Harris County Probation Office: 9111 N. Eastex Freeway Houston, TX  77093

 I am writing this only so that someone beginning probation or who are on it can get a picture of what I went through. The reason I do is because the hardest part of the ordeal was the uncertainties. Especially regarding drug test.
  I did quit smoking marijuana, but only sporadically. I would quit 2 - 2 1/2 weeks before a visit. They never surprise tested me, though they said they do practice that. I heard stories from other probationers that they did this to them, so it must be somewhat common to get a random test.
  I was originally arrested in Washington County TX for possession of Marijuana. I hired a lawyer who advised me to prove to the court I was worthy of Deferred Adjudication Probation for my second Marijuana conviction, by basically performing the responsibilities of probation before my court date and showing the judge these things in writing.
 I did that. I took the TDOEP and took urinalysis that I paid for twice a month for two months along with volunteer work at Goodwill as community service.
 The Judge accepted these gestures and in exchange for me pleading guilty he will give me 1 year deferred probation, 24 hours of Community Service and $700 restitution. He waived the TDOEP class and counted hours towards my Community Service as completed since I had done this before my court date as part of the plea bargain. After court I went directly across the street to the Washington County Probation Office. I signed up and took a mental evaluation test. I noted that all of the people who were completing their Probation in Washington County then went to take a drug test right away. After this I went to the County Jail to have my fingerprints rescanned into the computer and my photo taken. They had told me it would now take up to two weeks for Harris County to contact me and to be sure to check my mail because they will not accept any excuses.
 During this time I had been smoking weed. As soon as I took my last voluntary urinalysis I began smoking again. I got my letter from Harris County in about two weeks like they said. It instructed me to show up for orientation at 10:00am on a certain date. I quit smoking weed because this day was a little over two weeks away.
 The orientation was nothing really. Most of it was where to go and how to pay them monies, they also informed me that I will owe Harris County $5 a month for drug test cost and that I need to go downtown to the Probation office on San Jacinto to get an Offender ID. At the end they gave us each a paper after calling our names one by one. This had our Probation Officers name and the date of our first meeting with them. Mine was in over two weeks. During which time I got my ID before my first visit.
  As a note. I am 160 lbs 6' tall and fairly active. Especially at this time. My workout wasn't too strenuous. I rode my bike often and went swimming a lot along with a small workout of pushups and crunches. I tested how fast I was cleaning my system using store bought drug test. I was seeing that after smoking for one week it took a week to clean. I noticed later that 2-3 weeks of smoking took two weeks to clean.
  Since my meeting was well over two weeks away, I decided I could afford a few bowls before I went in to meet for the first time. So I smoked a gram over a few days.
  At my first meeting with my Officer she told me that she wanted me to finish all of my Community Service before I see her next month. She then said I need to go to the lab for a drug test. As a precaution I told her I have quit smoking, but I was a heavy smoker and I am worried the test will be positive. She told me don't worry, just take the test. I of course took the test. Then I went home and though to myself I have almost 5 weeks until I go back. So I smoked for two weeks and continued my workouts. I also finished my Community Service hours
before my next meeting.
 At my next meeting nothing was said about the previous drug test so I assumed I passed. My officer was happy I finished my hours and advised me to finish my payments to Harris County. My total remaining was about $45 dollars that I paid before my next visit. At this meeting I was also told I would need another mental evaluation. I was sent to another floor to talk to someone. I took no drug test. My next meeting was in more than a month, so I went home and smoked for two weeks.
  At my next meeting they told me the results of my evaluation showed I should take the TDOEP. I told them that this was already a term of my probation and that I had filled that before court thus having it waived as a completed terms. They accepted this though it was a hassle for me. I left again after not taking a drug test.
  I knew my next visit would include a test but I pushed the limit. During this time it was Christmas and New Year and I smoked until exactly 14 days before my meeting with Probation. During this time I worked out like mad. I had smoked a good bit for nearly three weeks now.
  I went to my meeting and was told that I would now have group meetings with a new officer and that I need to go to the lab for a drug test. I was told to come back again in a month, so I smoked for two weeks..
  At my next meeting nothing was mentioned of my previous test and was simply asked for my paper work and went home being told to come back in a month. So I smoked for two weeks.
  I came back now noticing a pattern to the drug test. Every third visit they test you. So I assumed correctly that this visit would not include a test. I was told this time to come back in only two weeks for my meeting. I asked why so soon and was told by my Officer that she didn't know why.
  I assumed I had failed a test and that something was going to happen. I decided I am already doomed so I risked smoking for two days giving me only 12 days to get clean.
  At my next meeting I was told that I was not to come back for two months and to mail in my forms. I was then told to take a drug test completing the pattern they were setting.
  During these 3 months of no meetings I smoked heavier than I planned. I went on a surf trip down south TX and smoked a ton of weed. I almost forgot I was on probation. I quit nearly 3 weeks before my meeting. But I had been very active even though I had been smoking a lot.
  At my next meeting I took a drug test and was told to come back in a month and that my next visit was my final one.
  At my last meeting nothing was said about my previous drug test. I was told I had completed the terms of my Probation and had no more meetings, but that I was still technically on until one more month. After that date Washington County will mail me my discharge paperwork.
  Six weeks after my last meeting I got my discharge papers in the mail.

This is my experience only. You may not be treated the same as me. I think that the way you dress and communicate to your officer will have a major effect on how easy Probation is for you.
 What I also think helped is that everything my officer mentioned I had done by my next visit.
  Regarding urinalysis. I passed every one after smoking and quitting for two weeks. I read that shortly before I got on at Harris County there was a scandal involving drug test being mishandled. They decided to outsource the work to a third party lab. I was not convinced they sent every specimen to lab. My feeling is that they only send trouble makers to be tested and that it is more of a scare tactic.
   Also DO NOT go down there in street clothes. Wear slacks and a button up shirt. Who cares if it is over dressed. If you look serious, they will take you serious.

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