Hi everyone. Im new to this site and am involved in juvenile probation in delaware, ohio. I was placed on probation on November 3rd, 2005 and am still on it till this day.

It started when I stole a $12.99 hat (stupid, I know) from a small store around my house. I was caught and arrested and went through an "Intake" program where I did community service and wrote apology letters to the store and my parents along with paying restitutionary fines to the store. All was well. Then one day, when I found out I was going to be placed on informal probation meeting once a week to see how "things are going" with my intake officer, i felt sick and really just did not want to go to school. My mom called the court and my intake officer along with the chief probation officer came and hauled me down to court where I had a hearing and was defined as "unruly". From there, I was placed on probation because I "needed" stricter supervision and have been on it since.

Now, I am 17, passed all drug tests and have almost paid off all of my fines to the court. I will admit I have been out past my curfew (recently for fourth of july), but have never had a violation thrown at me. I admitted to my officer I was out past my curfew because my parents said they would tell him. Basically, I'm not fond of authority and hate being told what to do, but with probation I realize that I have to.

My question comes here. My PO has made me do everything, I work about 15 mins from my house and do not have a license because I am not allowed to get one until my PO allows me to. My parents or Bus is my transportation to work but my PO HOUNDED...absolutely HOUNDED me to get a job with 5 mins from my house and would not accept anything less. I rode my bike around for almost 6 hours one day in pouring rain getting applications, filling them out, then returning them for this guy. He is insane and it seems as if he finds every reason to keep me off probation. He is VERY involved with my family life (my parents are not fond of me either, thinking im some crazy kid and not really knowing how to handle me), he seems to think that any rule I break at home is some violation or breaking the law and he lowers my curfew and becomes more strict. Lately, he has been threatening that anymore mistakes, of any kind, and I will be unsuccessfully terminated from probation with license cancellation until I'm 21. It is now July 14th, I have been perfectly fine since the 4th, and even before the fourth I was following house rules and paying off my fines. I made a stupid mistake and have the unfortunate young parents that want perfection from me it seems like, so why am I still on probation? What does my PO have the right to do? Can he get so involved with the family? My PO makes me do 30 mins of chores everyday around the house. He says if he finds out I'm not, then it delays any progression towards getting off probation or a license. To get to school, sports, and work, my license is very important, so what is it going to take? I have lost all hope recently because I'm very confused on what I need to do. How do I handle this situation, my PO, and myself? I'm not like all the other kids on probation my charges are very small...why 9 months so far? Can my PO just boss me around to do whatever and be a 3rd parent? ANY help is greatly appreciated...



- Thank You