My question involves criminal law for the state of: Michigan
So in February of this year, I was busted for smoking weed and I was sentenced earlier this month. Anyway, I got the resulting "punishment": 12-months probation, 30 hours of community service and substance abuse counseling. The year of probation is no big deal as it was a rare occasion that I smoked marijuana, the only difference is that I pay an extra 50 dollars a month. Same goes for the 30 hours of community service, I'm just out of my first year of college so I was able to get those done in less than two weeks due to not being employed currently and looking for a job. However, this substance abuse counseling is beginning to be a problem.
I'm required to attend a substance abuse counseling program, when I was sentenced and filling paperwork, the clerk made it seem as though the courses that my university is going to make me take will be substantial. That's not the case. I went to one of the "counseling clinics" and was told the basic pricing of the program, which is as follows: $140 for the initial assessment (I paid for that just to get the prices and in their system...), $40 dollars for a group meeting, and $95 dollars for an individual session. The lady I spoke with at the clinic stated that I'm required by them to attend 8 group meetings and then weekly individual meetings afterward until my probation officer is "happy"... So I decided to email my probation officer, and she stated that I'm required to have the clinic send monthly reports to her in regard to my progress at the clinic. This is going to cost upwards of 3000 dollars, which makes me very, very discontent.
Honestly, I do not see the point in taking these courses, as I have only smoked marijuana three times in my life, I just happened to get caught. What exactly should I say to my probation officer in regard to these courses? I feel powerless as my officer seems blunt for lack of a better term.
In addition to the ridiculous fees and whatnot, I'm required to get "fingerprinted" at the university police department. However, I was never arrested as the letter for my fingerprinting stated. So, I decided to email my probation officer yet again, this time pertaining to fingerprinting. She said that it's required to receive 7411. I read through 7411, and I do not recall it ever saying anything about fingerprinting.
So, what exactly should I do when it comes to these courses and the fingerprinting? I'm a college student paying my way through school, I can't afford this and would like to get it out of the way.
Sorry for posting such a long topic post, I'm too much of a detail-oriented person, I guess....![]()

