Smeg- you can have your son ask his PO for a UA voucher to help pay for his UA’s, but just know that he will be billed through our system for the voucher. So not only will he be charged Cost of Supervision fee, but also $10-$20 for the UA (depending on if he gets an alcohol test, a 5 panel drug test, or both). So to contradict Nancy, she can make a profit off the UA’s since this is money you or your son will have to pay back to ACMPS. I agree with Nancy that when a probationer is violated, it is ultimately up to the Judge to determine appropriate sentence. However, Nancy and Chief PO, Kim, have instructed us to to put in our recommendations “Extend Supervised Probation.” Nancy, please correct me if I’m wrong, but I have been doing this for quite awhile. Also, if an offender would like to go to unsupervised probation, there is a minimal chance this will happen. I have had numerous clients that have been totally compliant and have completed all terms that are on their court order (like treatment, paying fines/COS, taking every UA, and having all negative UA’s, etc). Even if the PO supports unsupervised probation, the decision is ultimately up to Nancy for approval. Why should Nancy decide? Especially when she has never met the client and come to know them like the supervising PO has. In recent months, I have been telling my clients that they can write a letter to their Judge requesting unsupervised. They have a far better chance having their request approved. However, Nancy has specifically told us not to inform clients of this. And when the original article “Ada Probation Agency Comes Under Scrutiny” was posted, Kim specifically told us NOT to respond to any media that may call or come in. I understand that Nancy would be the best person to answer questions, but it also shows a total distrust that she has with us (current employees). This may be due to us possibly describing our hostile and unhealthy work environment and telling the truth.

Thank You current employee. The the correct interpretation of the voucher is really a delay by the probationer in paying for the mandatory drug test. It is not really a voucher at all in the true meaning. The voucher will be billed at a later date. I assume the unpaid bill is then turned over to a collection agency. I appreciate the information and hope your information is informative to people in authority that may read this.

I believe that the Commisioners and the Dept. Of Labor should do an ivestigation on Nancy Cladis, her doors should be shut down.

Wow I got up too early this morning. investigation is what I was going for.

I filled out the “Exit Survey” and said great things simply to ensure that I would get out of the corrupt system. So, I painted a rosy picture of it. I’ve been off probation for a few years now. Give me the same Exit Survey and it’ll read differently knowing you don’t have the power to arbitrarily file a probation violation for a dubious reason.
Don’t expect honesty from probationers. They have the proverbial gun to their head. They are likely to get assigned to a new class like CSC (Cognitive Self Change) to “correct their thinking.” This class will cost at least $20/week and will last for at least 6-9 months in a dingy building with unqualified “facilitators”. In effect, if you don’t agree with them you have “thinking errors” and need to go pay money, take time out of your busy schedule in order to be “re-educated/indoctrinated.” This sounds like a Soviet system, if you ask me.
Now that I’m out of the system ADMPS can take a hike. I feigned all of my rosy-cheeked cooperation just to get through it. That’s what my attorney advised me to do and he was right.
All of the classes were lame and I am now anti-law enforcement due to all of this stuff. I used to trust and respect the police. Now I teach my children that the police are not your friend. The Courts are not your friend. Don’t trust either. Always exercise your right to remain silent under EVERY circumstance if being questioned FOR ANYTHING. Live and learn.

One can only speculate as to where the money from the indigent fund is being used, because as a former employee, most POs were not even aware one existed for their clients until the resigning of her contract last year. Never were we told that our clients could receive help w their medications, housing, food, or other necessities. What I find peculiar is that the money in this fund was provided by the courts. When a PO is ordered to appear in court, they are reimbursed, both for their time AND THEIR MILEAGE. However, although we were forced to drive our own cars, we were never reimbursed for our gas, Nancy simply pocketed this money. And in all the years I worked there, I was never told that any fund was available to help my clients, instead being told to tell my offender to “get off their a$$ and get a job”

Smeg- To answer your question, yes supervised probation is to ensure that a probationer does not violate any more laws while they are on supervision. However, when your son came to his first appointment with his PO, he signed ACMPS’ supervision agreement. This is another “list” of rules that he must follow and abide by EX: must submit to drug testing. Your sons PO should have explained this as I do at first appointments. This is not anything unusual and juvenile and felony probation also have similar agreements. So if a probationer is violated, the PO can use the court order and/or supervision agreement. I agree with Nancy that drug testing is necessary no matter what a person is on supervision for. In my experience, I have found people to have serious drug or alcohol problems even when their crime is not drug/alcohol related. We can then try to assist them with appropriate treatment programs and hopefully prevent them from getting a new charge. Now should probationers on supervision for petit theft be UA’d the same amount of times as someone on supervison for a DUI 2nd? No, but that is my personal opinion. We just have to follow the rules that Nancy has put in place.

Mz. Ullman, I don’t have a dog in this fight at all, although there seems to be enough polarity between the two extremes, an investigation is definitely called for. As the leading elected officials in this county, it certainly should not require a need to convince one of your peers to agree with you. You three were elected specifically to remove the BS from both extremes and find the truth, (usually someplace in the middle)
Thank you for your input and I am interested in the outcome.

Sharon you have what you need to warrant an investigation. I pray that what you have is enough to close her doors down

I was a recent probationer. Been on supervised probation for 3 1/2 years, after being extorted by the court system into a plea deal that was changed by the apparent “mistake” of a court recorder. I had been sentenced to a two year probation, for two offenses, to be served concurrently. It had been put into the contract I signed as “consecutively”. At the time (and still), I did not have the funds to be able to contest this first amount of B.S., so I resigned my self to spending 4 years as a “ward” of the State.
My offenses were not drug or alcohol related, and any UA’s I had to do were random, I had not been put on a color code. My first UAs were for alcohol which came up negative. Imagine my surprise when my next UA was to be for drugs. Not only was the test for something I had not done, and did not do, but the cost was twice the price. For the next two years every test was to be for drugs. I had complained about the cost to my PO, but not once was I EVER informed about vouchers for the tests. (Good thing, because it looks like I would STILL be paying off acmps.)
Eighteen months into my sentence, I heard and asked about being placed on unsupervised probation. My PO told me it was decided by him, so I decided to wait until two years were completed, and asked him again if I could be placed on unsupervised. I was told that decision was up to his supervisor. For another year, I was led to believe if I was keeping my end of the contract, I would be given unsupervised. Instead, a new PO was given me, so I had to start a new relationship with someone who did not know me, and did not know my situation. It didn’t start very well. She was very surprised I had not been placed on color code, for UA testing, and had me start calling in every day. If I missed once, I was to be violated and put in jail. So after three years plus of NOT offending, I was given another chance by the acmps, to violate, and have my sentence lengthened. At that time, my new PO told me about writing the judge in my case, to be placed on unsupervised probation (THANK YOU!)which I wrote very soon after that. The next issue I had was about the length I had left in my term. I was given a receipt for every time I had paid, and it showed I had been current with my schedule and only had a number of months left to complete, but my new PO wanted me to do an extra month. I told her my time was done at 4 years, but she stated I was NOT to be released until the month AFTER. Thankfully my letter to the judge finally paid off and I was given unsupervised probation, but it was not until after a couple of hundred dollars in UA tests, and visits to acmps.
Looking back, I am conflicted. I wonder, if I had finished my original 4 years of being “babysat”, and being arrested for absconding, if I wouldn’t have had a very good lawsuit against acmps for unlawfully lengthening my probation. I also almost wish I HAD done the time in jail I was originally going to be given in lieu of probation. I would have saved myself 3 years 4 months of an emotional rollercoaster, and several thousand dollars in “fees”.
At this time, I am completely done with this episode in my life. I do not fear being hit with a “violation” of any sort.( You can be violated for not being employed). Do I feel the system is abusive, and is it profit motivated? The answer to me, is a resounding YES.

Ok the commisioners were provided with enough proof to warrant an investigation at the very least. We will go public with this info if needed.

I had a small run-in with the law here. Wasn’t a very good experience at all, and it shouldn’t be. I paid my fines in full at the end of my hearing, reported for my 30 days of work release as instructed. Paid my $50.00 a month and took a UA when told to. I completed my community service as quickly as possible and my attorney went back before the judge and I was released from supervised probation after 5 months. I have another year of probation, which I am still adhearing to the requirements as required by the court. At the end of next year, my attorney will file a motion to have my record sealed. I didn’t have any problems with any of the process. It’s definately money hungry and there are a multitude of hoops you have to jump through. Work release was the most intersting ever. People are in there because they have jobs and need to keep them, but they let people in who don’t work and want to talk and be rowdy all night. I saw drugs inside, cell phones, and all kinds of illegal activity going on. People came in loaded with a variety of drugs. The entire 30 days I was there, I was never searched, nor were any of my belongings. But then, maybe its because I was a first offender, not drug or alcohol related, a good job, with a clean track record until the one mistake. However, it made me very nervous as it’s possible for one of the junkies in there to stash there stuff on you. I was green to say the least until someone showed me the ropes and how to protect myself. I think sentencing in Idaho is out of control, and the length of time they try to keep you in the system is wrong. Slap a shoplifter on the hand with a heft fine and 80 hour of community service. Stop with the UA’s, work release, and all the other BS. And the theft class was not benefitting in any way. I think they assign it as more of a form of punishment, not educational purposes. The system definately needs help, but overall I can say I didn’t have any problems with my PO, in fact he was very kind to me once we met a couple times. He was hard at first, but then we talked a little and things got better. I’m older, I learned a long time ago to tell people what they want to hear, truth or no truth…its gets you along faster that way.

It’s mind boggling to see how many posts have come from both this article and the probation article, and to see that nothing has been done. It’s fairly obvious that a few posters have provided or have pertinent info regarding this corruption, and failure to respond to the citizens’ concern leaves the commissioners w a significant chance of liability if this type of unethical practice is not stopped. I for one have never been through the probation system, happen to be very grateful for everything our court system does for us, and respect our police department, but this for-profit company is blatantly a conflict of interest. How can people not realize this? She needs probationers money to support her lifestyle, it’s common sense that she would collect money from them for as long as possible, even taking them back to court and asking for this “extension of probation”. I think all those willing to come forward should do so NOW, somebody must do something

With the economy as low as it is & the limited jobs available these probationers are being violated for not working, not paying probation dues, classes that they can not afford, ridiculous mental evaluations with Nancy requiring them & ‘highly suggesting’ that they be medicated. And BAM! Not only can they not afford all these so called requirements, they have now been violated & given a PV warrant that they now have to pay a bond on. O Wait! What about the SCRAM device that the judges order coincidently ONLY through Misd. P&P that was costing approx. $400 a month. And finally with enough complaints on that & people not being able to rightfully bond out of jail due to the high cost & the PO’s not being available after 5pm they now have the TAD device that is half the price of the SCRAM until last week? when Cladis obviously lost a ton of $money$ due to her device being so inconvenient she has now tried to undercut the TAD device $30 by lowering her Scram price to $210. Hopefully the investigation on her happens & the county makes some greatly needed positive changes.

So with one of the Council members apparently full informed about this issue of public concern, why is there not a investigation going on? And why are the other two sittn on their hands?

GUARDIAN: Can you provide some numbers; number of probationers, $$ involved etc., to give this story some impact for the bystanders who don’t think it has or will have an impact on them.

EDITOR NOTE–The system is funded by the offenders. We have talked to ALL the commishes and provided copies of many of the comments. It appears their attitude is to just leave it at “status quo” for another year. Our position is there is enough “smoke” to merit a search for the “fire.” Far too many complaints by people who openly admit they are guilty, but feel abused by the for-profit system.

We have provided ALL of the commisioners with PROOF. Sharon is the only one that is listening. Vern happens to be a friend of Nancy’s so he isn’t going to vote for the investigation. As for Rick, I’m not sure as to WHY he doesn’t think an investigation is warranted. If this story were in the statesman it would be a totally different story and we ALL know it.

EDITOR NOTE–We do need a good trustworthy local paper that covers the news. The GUARDIAN tries to prod the legacy media, but we have limited influence.

I bet if 100 people out in front of ACMPS were picketing it would get some airtime.

Rick, I mix it up a bit every now and then. It’s kinda fun to have someone thinkn I’m stupid.

Lots of folk on here type something quickly, errors are bound to occur. There are also those who hold themselves above the rest based on their spelling ability or job title rather than the substance and key points of their posts. From time to time there are even attempts at intimidation or misinformation aimed at a particularly accurate poster.

Haven’t seen you on here much, new name or new?

Zippo

I will print out the post in this thread and go straight to the source to see if it was written by her. There is no doubt that the e-mails in another thread were written by her since time and date indicators are there. IF this had come from her e-mail I would assume that those markers would have been left on there as bona fides to further verify the writer of the post, since they were not, I have to assume that this was written by someone else. I might be wrong, it wouldn’t be the first itme, but in this instance I think I’m right.

Editor –IF it came from her e-mail why did you choose delete all of the headings you left on in the other thread? Something smells here.

EDITOR NOTE–we do not publish e-mail addresses of any commenters.

Rick,

The messages posted on this forum don’t come from email accounts. The email information is entered into a field. I could use Nancy’s email, for that matter. However, that would be fraud, and could even be construed as identity theft. So, either Nancy sent the messsage or someobody is incredibly stupid and crooked.

Second, we should be THANKING the Boise Guardian for bringing awareness to this issue, rather than nitpicking them over this or that. Take it elsewhere. Perhaps you should contact them offline if you have a concern or grievance like this.

Zippo

I assume that comment was aimed at me…. You might be suprised what profession I work in.

As usual anyone who doesnt hold the party line must be the bad guy…. oh well who cares… 1 question though..jow many of you who are weighing in on this have been on probation….not know some one who has been on or had a baby momma/baby daddy on probation… no parents who complian about having to pay to enable their kids… HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY DEALT WITH PROBATION ON YOUR OWN?

I doubt that you have any idea of what it takes to maintain the integrity of a nation.. I really like the pathetic probationer comment… shows just how stupid you are… if any of you think this forum is a legitimat news outlet you are sadly mistaken..

Rick ~ Please submit a public records request to the county if you would like to see the letters Nancy Cladis has written so you can verify their content and authenticity for yourself.

They Treat their clients/ employees like SH**T.. Take your money to meet with them for a short period of time, make you late for work, When one of the “conditions” is to hold a job, but they can’t get their sh**t together. ie: walking in for your “appt” they don’t have a PO for you(cause the one you did have got let go), not notified of a new change. Make you wait to see if they could “squeeze you in” with someone else.. Which in returns makes you late to your job.Glad $ 75 plus more a month goes to a bunch of Crooks!! “Im the crook”, you are too!! you should pay the clients to come see you! The place is a dump. drug/alcohol testing when not ordered to do so is also a waste of time, inconveinent, waste of money. I hope something is done about this issue…

Rick ~ If you were to request the lengthy letters that Nancy has authored and sent to our office, you would note the similarity in writing style and content. The person who made these remarks (I believe it was Nancy) missed a few factual points, but few people would know about the presentation on UA testing to the Misdemeanor Probation Planning Committee. (I also serve on this committee.) To be quite frank, I was rather confused as to why a private company was afforded the opportunity to make a presentation to this statewide committee of mostly government officials. I don’t specifically recall being “impressed” although I believe claims were made that this company’s tests were more cost effective than those currently being used. FYI, Ada County has a population of just under 400,000 and, according to the best information I have available, Ada County has less than 3000 active misdemeanants on probation at any given time. I DO believe that Nancy has a right to defend herself against the many claims being made. I would think that if she has done nothing wrong, she would welcome the close scrutiny of an investigation of her program.

zippo

Not sure how I helped, but you’re welcome. I am also unsure where anyone got the idea that I am against the idea of an investigation into this, because that is not the case. I even suggested it in a letter I wrote to ALL 3 commissioners individually shortly after this hoopla started. Have any of you written letters directly to or contacted the commissioners personally about this matter? Or has your input only been on this site?

I am sure, Ms. Cladis, that current probationers have little to say in this forum because they fear backlash for their comments. I have some tales about the program, but as I want to be free eventually, this is not the time or place to share. If we feel persecuted now, why risk it?

Rick- I failed to mention that keeping a job is a requirement … it would help if they could get there crap together so i can make sure my bills are paid… and of COURSE so they can get paid!! wouldn’t want to get a probation violation…

I also failed to mention, UA’s were not part of the order I was given.

I was recently court ordered to take 32 hours of alcohol treatment. I began my classes at Dave Liddle’s. I met with my probation officer for my first appt and was told that I needed to change treatment providers and would most likely not get credit for the hours I completed with DL’s. I was frustrated to say the least. I built a rapport with Dave and was comfortable with his staff. Not to mention the money I had already spent.Why does their office have the authority to select where my hours are completed, considering the courthouse provided me with a list that they deemed acceptable?? Does Nancy Cladis have some sort of monetary arrangement with certain treatment facilities?

I am a current probationer. i was given an option to be “unsupervised” because i was moving. Everything was packed and got a minor “phone Harassment” charge a few days before leaving. Not only is the court system currupt, but i have never been able to leave the state because the aACMPS will not recognize my paperwork and ability to leave the state.

UllMAN, DO something!!!!

did you know that Nancy also runs probation in power county? she makes her po’s in ada work saturdays and sundays and she doesnt work either saturday or sunday because she only works one day a week and even then she will make other po’s see her people. both nancy and kim say that they can work from home while everyone else is expected to be at work. when i worked there a lot of people were not happy with how they are told to perform but you either do as you are told or you are out the door. i hear now they are having full day staff meetings and they will not answer phones nor will they see clients but if you are going to pay your fees they will open the door for you some one needs to lookm into how that department is being run.

Guardian, thank you for giving an outlet to those of us who have been wronged. To the naysayers on here I just want to say that just because the vast majority don’t agree with your opinion does not make this site or Dave for that matter a joke. Get a grip.
Nancy you said you would answer questions if they were not hostile so I’ll try my best not to sound rude so I can get an answer. I was ordered to get an evaluation and then complete what it recommended me to do. It recommended 26 weeks of treatment I was willing to do that, however after being in treatment for a few months my provider told me that you recommended my treatment be upped to 52 weeks. I’m wondering why that is? I have 2 sessions a week with him yet I only see you once a month. I would think my counselor would know me better then you would as he sees me 7 times more a month. Do you have some sort of degree or training that let’s your opinion trump what my provider wants?

The system is a racket. It’s a house of cards that is now about to come crumbling down with the class action lawsuit. Everyone just toe the line, be patient, and wait for it to fall. Change is coming.

I’m a former probationer. I know the intense hell they put me through for 2 years. It really changed who I was as a person. It’s made me more aggressive and angry. I’m sure this is the exact opposite of what they hoped to achieve. I know that i’m not the only one.

Everyone, just keep your noses clean. Stay out of trouble. Join the class action lawsuit. Call Mr Gordon’s office at 345-7100 and ask for Tracy. Give her your information.

The Guardian has lived up to its name in this case. Being a Guardian of the people, especially those people who are marginalized and without a voice. Those who are immediately dismissed due to their “history.”

Thanks, Guardian.

Zippo ~ I never, ever give up when I perceive that there is wrongdoing occuring.

Someone recently wrote that this situation “reeks of cronyism.” I can attest to the fact that much that goes on in county government does, in fact, reek of cronyism.

My goal is massive reform of everything that is currently secretive, dysfunctional, or downright broken. Hopefully, next year, voters will provide a like-minded colleague.

Sharon
IF…. it is unconstitutional for counties to run probation instead of corrections… looks like a lot of county’s going to be involved in an amazing amount of law suits.

sounds like a typical moron cop comment….I’ll bet most of your comments start out with…. back in cali… god I wish you would all go back

Ms. Ullman,

I saw your comment in the latest report in the Statesman. While I certainly applaud you for being the lone voice on the Commission regarding this issue, I think you are definitely incorrect when you stated,

“I don’t think anyone wants this house of cards to come crashing down.”

If you had to sit in that office and suffer through 2 years of abuse I think your opinion would differ. We don’t want, or need, a complete elimination of a probation program. But, the “house of cards” that is ACMPS, Inc. definitely needs to come crashing down.

If put in the same position today as I was then, I’d take the few months in County Jail and be done with it rather than sit through 2 more years of Cladis’ office. That is no exaggeration.

Thank you, Ms. Ullman. Point taken.

I have a comment for Nancy that I will try to make as sincerely harmless as possible. Ms. Cladis, I phoned you a couple of months ago to discuss a problem with a certain probation officer of yours. Instead of addressing the problem we were having with the P.O., you demanded many times to know which probationer I was talking about. When I refused to mention his name due to a fear of retaliation towards this probationer, you hung up on me. I tried to call back to see if we could actually address the issue with the probation officer, but you refused to answer my call and seemed only concerned with the probationer, never even asking who his P.O. was. Why would you do that?

I once represented a client on a probation violation who was sued for his cost of supervision. He met with his PO the first time, said screw this, and absconded. He got arrested on his PV a few years later and ACMPS sued him for two years of his fees.

But it isn’t about money…

Nancy gave me 118 piss tests in one year for dissturbeing the peace.these costs 18.00 a shot,domestice voilence classes,alochol classes and drug classes.summing up to around ,with fuel expences–about $7000.00 ,hey who do i contact to get my money back,as im raiseing a family and we are or the verge of being homeless,

Is it legal that ACMPS orders me to attend “group” meetings? For my monthly meeting, they take me and about 10 other people, usher us into a room, and have our monthly meeting that lasts about 40 minutes. To begin with, that is approx $550 they are making in less than an hour, but my biggest concern is that I take medications for depression. I don’t feel comfortable talking about things like this to eleven strangers. Not even my Dr has the authority to discuss my medications with others, why does my PO think it’s acceptable? I asked to be taken out of them and to be seen individually. I’m paying my $50 a month, i want a private appt with my PO. I was told the director ordered these, so that was the way it was going to be. In my group treatment at least I was learning something. In this group I feel like a number, getting me and others in and out as quickly as possible and the rapport I had with my PO is gone.

Check your judgment document and consult an attorney.

The judgment forms changed in the past couple years. The new form combines three or four old forms.

There is a section for probation. Specific classes may be written in or there could be a check box. WAY too often “treatment per PO” is authorized.

Without knowing the specifics of the class I can’t know if you must endure that. What I REALLY want to know is who runs the class. The PO? I’d want to know what training the PO has for whatever that is. To the best of my knowledge the POs really don’t have much training to do something like a substance abuse class.

If it is just your monthly meeting lumped in with a bunch of other people, that makes little sense to me. I don’t know what good it does you to hear someone else get told to pay their damn fines. Or get into Victim’s Panel.

I completely agree with Groups’s comment. It ain’t quality, it is quantity…

I think it is good to have these discussions on the boards, but if you want to e-mail me, try [email protected]. My impression was the evening classes were substance abuse and such, so I’d like to know more myself.

i have 8 months to go on domestic violence charge. i want to know how to get on unsupervised prpbation.i have completed all my domestic violence hours,a psch.concult and a drug and alcohol eval. 2 years on supervised probation is too long. i also have passed all of my urine tests as far as i know. i am sick and tired of making money for nancy cladis.i dont see her for my visits anyway. thanks

SP: Withheld judgments aren’t worth a ton in Idaho, in my opinion. ISTARS pretty much killed that.

Susan: Your case has continuing action in it. Looks like Jeff Nona is your attorney. In March there was a motion to move to UNSUP. There is a reiew set in January 2012, a letter from the defendant on 5 October and a motion to move up the hearing date.

If Nona is still rep’ing you, you need to rely on him.

Your ROA also shows a Rule 11 agreement back at sentencing. A Rule 11 is a specific type of plea agreement whereby all the parties agree to be bound to the specific terms. That normally means if the state doesn’t agree to modify those terms, it isn’t going to happen. Judges typically hold the defendant to what he previously agreed to.

The ROA tends to show you are in a diversionary court. If so, they’ll get you to UNSUP when they get you there. My understanding is that Nancy has a more active role in that diversionary court, which CANNOT be a good thing…

Instead of continuing to talk about it, we need to take action.
These commishes dont expect us to do anything but talk about it.
Lets do something real.

I propose a full display of disapproval. Picketing at ACMPS and at city hall, and at the court house. The week of 10-23 – 10-29

Comment if you agree and lets get organized. Everyone here is right and in agreement. What they are doing is ilegal. Lets hold them accountable.

Withheld Judgments

If eventually dismissed, legally that removes the conviction. As you indicate, the record continues to exist with ISTARS, which most everybody knows about.

Records also exist with ISP if there was an arrest and a disposion, so the dismissal is only part of the issue. ISP may or may not purge a record after a WHJ.

Only two real benefits I know of for WHJs are 1) possibly removing an SR22 requirement after 1 year instead of 3 in DUI cases, and 2) judges imposing more lenient terms of the WHJ probation in exchange for a second shot at you if you violate, because when they revoke the WHJ you face anything up to the maximum penalties again.

Successful WHJ does NOTHING under federal law regarding gun rights. That’s a touchy one…

That last post is not mine but it is extremely funny! If I recall another PO pointed that out to me a while back ago (massage parlor)
I watched the news the other night and was very disappointed as to what Rick Y. stated, we met up with him, had proof in our hands (enough to not renew her contract) and on the news he states we cannot go on just accusations and allegations? What??? He told us he had numerous complaints about Nancy and would look into it. I’m seriously at a loss.

to anyone who reads this ON PROBATION. It is in Nancys new contract that she is NOT to operate or profit from her own testing facilities. if you are instructed to do a UA at the probation, get your reciept and get it to Sharon Ullman immediatley.

I am a current probationer as we speak, and I am also looking to to sue these people. as far as getting vouchers for Uas thats a load of crap they had me meet with someone in there office that wanted me to admit that I had a drug and alcohol problem. and denied me that voucher for help paying on uas because i refused to sit there and say I had a problem. if i did have a problem i would admit it belive me. That office is so malicous .

why cant i get another probation officer besides nancy. she said no one else would have me. i dont believe this.

Rick, why don’t you enlighten us?

Has anyone had issues with UA’s coming up positive right before there release? I am supposed to be released off of probation in a month and went in for my monthly meeting and was told I tested positive for alcohol. I asked if there was any tests out there that I could do that could prove I did not drink and the response I got was no. There’s got to be something out there that can detect alcohol. I have paid all my fines done all my required courses and have been clean and all of sudden the last month I have tested positive. What can someone do to fix this? Has anyone gone through this? what actions did you take? I also requested to do a DNA testing and was told I had to take it up with Global drug testing. PLEASE HELP!!

Found out today that my “cost of supervision fees” are being increased from $50 to $75 a month. I would like to know why that is? How can felony probation and parole get by with charging only $60 a month (including urine testing) but MISDEMEANOR probation can’t? I thought outsourcing contracts like this were because the private sector could do it for less. I cannot see another reason other then by Nancy’s own words that she is “retiring and the county will be taking over” so she needs to make as much money as possible before that happens and to hell with the rest of us. That is the only logical reason I can come up with that would explain to me why they are charging more then felony probation.
I was struggling just to pay the $50 a month (along with classes, UA’s and Fines)and now an increase!! There’s got to be an end to this somewhere!

rick: are you on ada county probations payroll or what.

rick:what a bunch of baloney.

Rick,
I’m a PO in a County that you deem to be run by an “assembly line” government approach. And am slighted that you apparently feel that those of us, being probation officer’s working for a government agency, means that we are not doing what it takes to help those out there who have lost their way or just simply made a mistake and are rectifying it. Your comment that “many” are not willing to take responsibility or lack discipline to change” I also find inaccurate. As I find MOST of my defendant’s are accountable for what they’ve done and are actively taking steps to not make those same mistakes in the future. Unfortunately there are the few that will resist change and no matter what you say or do, no matter how many resources you give to them they will not change.
To make the assumption that the quality of service will diminish because probation is not privately run is ludicrous in my opinion. As you may or may not be aware the vast majority of probation offices in Idaho ARE run by the government.
I absolutely believe that agencies like mine should not be managed by a for profit entity. As there is then no incentive to get people out of the system, if that happens the company in return loses profits. It appears to be a conflict of interest in my opinion.

PO

I would be interested to know which county you work for, not that it makes a difference. I would like to be able compare client loads and look at the rates of recidivism under a government run vs. private system. Government run programs are historically less efficient than privately run organizations no one can dispute that fact. Assembly line may not have been an appropriate term to use but government programs tend to be less responsive to the needs of the individual than do private entities that provide the same service that point will also be very hard for a government run organization to argue.

You do have an indisputable point that keeping people on probation makes the company more money. You also have a point that it is a conflict of interest keeping people on and keeping the income but, there is also a conflict from a government standpoint, IE reducing services to reduce costs. Let’s look at it from a government stand point getting people off of probation sooner will lower case loads in turn allowing the “County” to reduce costs. Keeping an individual on longer hurts the individuals pocket in the short run, getting them off probation sooner lowers their chances to gain from groups and classes in the long run. This program should be about giving the individual as many tools as possible to make their lives better not about arguing about money.

I base my “MANY” comment on the comments of people who were in the same classes I was in and on comments of people I spent time with in Gary Rainey’s bed and breakfast, as he likes to call it.

You say “MOST of my defendant’s are accountable for what they’ve done and are actively taking steps to not make those same mistakes in the future” I applaud you for your work. What would you say your success rate is? I would think a 70-80% success rate would be outstanding which would fit into your “MOST” statement but, unfortunately a 20-25% rate also
fits into my “MANY” statement. I understand it’s semantics since both statements are actually correct.

The thing that I see as the biggest problem with Sharon Ullman’s idea (she wants to put probation under the Sheriff’s Dept at least that is what SHE told me in a conversation she and I had back in Sept.) is you are putting the fox in charge of the hen house, something that I see as unconscionable.

You obviously still see yourself as a victim and that is too bad.
When you quite seeing yourself as the victim and take responsibility for your actions your life will turn around.

I do wish you the best

rick: sorry,but i dont see myself as a victim.

Rick, what steps did you take to receive unsupervised probation? Did you file a motion or did you literally just write a letter to your judge?

rick: how you got off probation sounds unrelistic to me.

Susan

Sorry it sounds unrealistic to you but, it is true.

I did a little snooping around since you put your last name on a previous post I took the liberty of looking you up on the Idaho Repository. I would think after having “publica” tell you that you would not be able to get off supervised early due to a rule 11 you would let it go but I guess not. I thought it was funny as I read through your summary you have already written your judge one four (4) occasions I have no idea what was in those letters but it would seem from your posts that it was aimed at getting you off probation. That is just one thing I found. I also found that your fines had been “commuted” we will never know for sure how much the fines were reduced. Your charges in one case were dropped in this case your charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. After reading the summary I am a little confused as to why you think you should get another break. Sounds to me like you think if you keep yelling the court will just drop everything.
Take responsibility for what you have done, (something you have defiantly not been able to do yet) learn from it and move on.

I may even come to your next review, you never know.

RICK;you are so wrong about me.what buisness is it of yours and what are you doing in court?

Susan

Good Luck in your future endeavors. I hope things work out for you and they will when you decide to put in the effort to make some changes in your life.
I hope you understand that I am not trying to degrade you in any way. I was at the same place you are a couple of years back and I finally realized that IF I didn’t make some changes in my life I was going to flounder in that same situation for the rest of my life. No matter what you tell yourself or anyone else you are floundering in the woe is me, I’m the victim phase and until you pull yourself out of it things in your life will not get better. See a counselor and talk this out you will be so much better for it.

how can the probation office be able to up their fees without proper notification? how are the people who can’t pay be able to who’s making the profit here? Susan stop talking to Rick he’s creepy!!! I myself have been on probation and coming up for a request to put me on unsupervised I have payed all my fines done all my reguired classes and did an additional 8hrs that was not reguired but I paid out of pocket I have my regrets on this matter but it’s the best thing that happened to me I’m alive and others are safe, but I too feel that the system is gearing up to make a lot of people fail to keep them in the system because with the economy the unemployed and the hike in fees it’s a recipe for disaster and over flowing jails and prisons is not the answer, Rick you sound like a paid promoter for Nancy and these hikes don’t make her look at all like a greedy out the door advocate you so strongly support, or does it???

First let me say for the “umpteenth”(that means a bunch)time I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE ON THE PAYROLL OF ACMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish there was some way to put this misconception to rest but, it seems the truth will not be heard on this subject. I have no personal stake one way or another in what ACMPS charges, I will say this when I was on probation I did not like paying $50.

In my opinion, your anger, which is justified, is pointed at in my opinion the wrong person. I dare say that if any of you had a business with clientele that were mandated to use your business, and what you were allowed to charge for your service was set by an outside entity you would do exactly the same thing, charge the max.

To respond to the creepy comment, I am confused, what did I say to Susan that was creepy? If it was that I will be at her next review I have been trying to go to reviews every month of so since I got off of supervised. I set in the back and watch and listen, it is beneficial to me for a number of reasons, sorry if any of you think that is creepy. Scared if you think I’m so creepy I wonder why you would ask me a question.

SCARED is likely just another AKA name for Tina as this is her style of writing. Don’t let your buttons get pushed, this is what she likes to do. She can not seem to move on.

Tina, aka Scared, ru kidding, and many more names will not quit. She is on a personal mission.

Current employee you seem to mistaken me for someone that has nothing to lose and all to gain and it sounds like nancy still has power over you pulling your strings like a puppet and you have no compassion or desire to help anyone but your self and your boss if you did you would make available resources to help not hinder and this tina your talking about seems to be looking for help too sounds like nancy maybe going incognito on here to see whats being said like a mole???

I would like to know what has actually happened with Ada County Misdemeanor Probation offices? Did an investigation go down? Or is one going to happen. I can honestly say that for the time I have been there I have wasted it. I have wasted time with these random UA’s, I have wasted 50 and now 75 DOLLARS of my hard earned money, money that I do not have a lot of because I am a student and part time worker and dont have the noney to support such a negative company. These people may “help” some people but like what some of the people have said on this post its probably because people are to scared to tell how they really feel and just want to brown nose their probation officers with the possible luck of getting off early. What people do not understand is the fact that just because someone committed a crime doesn’t mean that they are this bad person the court makes them out to be. It’s called ” people make mistakes”. I could understand maybe having these negative accusations towards some people who are repeat offenders but not for people who have made a mistake and who are deeply sorry for it. Sometimes situations come and some people don’t know how to properly handle it. But to continue most probation officers do not care about how or what their probationee is doing. It’s ridiculous the amount of time, money wasted with this company. If you want to help people then listen to them! Don’t make them afraid of you because of what “authority” you have. If they feel they are doing good then give them the chance to prove that to you.

Who is in control of Nancy Cladises operation? I’ve called IDOC, Everyone I can think of and no one knows. It seems she’s just out there doing whaterer she feels like accountable to no one. The ethicss of her operation have been in question for so long with so many concerns of just screwing people you would think some one knew something. Now probation cost went up to 75.00, I’m paying 200.00 mo. which seems, from what I’ve read, goes aginst even the IDOC standards. If you know anything please share it.

Let’s use our common sense here. If you have a legitimate documented complaint, make an appointment with Ms. Cladis to discuss it. If you are not satisfied with the way it was handled, bring it to the commissioners office. This does not seem at all credible. If you had that receipt for $200.00 a month for probation fees, they would be in violation and would not be in business with a contract with the county. County government likely has NO substantiated complaints or Ms. Cladis would not be running it. Seems we might have some more aka names here under curious and irritated. Why all these unknown people, if you have a complaint, deal with it.

Then you were told wrong. Who told you the $75 was all inclusive?

I wish they were right someone would owe me about $1600

The 75 is supervision fee classes and testing fees are in addition. ACMPS didn’t make the classes mandatory the judge did. As far as testing goes(atleast with me) I was ramdomly tested until I showed that I wasnt having a drug or alcohol problem, after that I was tested ramdomly between court dates and my testing fees wernt $10 a pop they were $25 so $10 testing sounds pretty good to me.

Joe,I am paying that much and alot more.You see,I have a family,jobs are tight,we’re bearly getting by.I’ve been forced to pass on five jobs now because of probation.These jobs were 3-6 hours away form my home so I would have to stay there and come home on the weekends.I was flat out told NO!Yet I better always have their money!In this economy eveyone has to bend.As far as sitting down and talking with anyone working at P&P,not going to happen.From what I’ve read, and what I’ve witnessed,I may as well put my thoughts and feelings in the news paper.I don’t trust anyone there.I know alot of people in law (officers,lawyers,Judges)in Calif. (that’s not to sound like it makes me somebody, because I’m not)Thay hear and read about the Id system and just smerk with disbelief.It’s not even funny to them,it’s sad because they know and believe in the system the way it’s ment to run.This system has been shown to be corrupt,impotent,one sided and just plain sloppy in process for twenty years now and guess what?? no one has done squat to correct it.I believe in the Constitution. The people appointed to work and run Idaho should also.Myabe it would help if someone who knows how to read read it to them??? Have a Godly day

Exactly Rick and she wants you off this blog. You are taking her space. I don’t think she will ever go away.

HAHAHAHA!! I’ve been out of the mix for awhile,Joe and rick are the same by the time lines and posts. Jeff and all the others that came here to vent and try to find some solitude and release and maybe some answers. Please don’t give up, Keep your chin up and your head held high, you’ll get thru this, keep positive and don’t let the negative stuff cloud your way. God bless …..Ps r/j keep stirring and say hi to Nancy!!!!

I heard a rumor yesterday that probation is being put under the sherrif.

Sharron would you care to comment?

I am currently on probation and Kim Helmandolar was my PO and now I was informed that he is no longer seeing clietns but is working from home. How convenient for him and supposedly he is the Chief Probation officer and if you want to talk to him you are told that he is not availabe well come to find out he is onm payroll and makes more than others and does not have a caes of probationees to see. My complints I have been told that need to go to a Sandy who is clerical and I do not trust any of them anymore as I have gone through so many POs in that office. If Kim does not want to work than he should resign and period.