Well I was ordered to be under House Arrest by Fresno County courts but I live in Orange county. So I had to get a transfer to Orange county which is only ran by Sentinal Home Monitoring program for all of the Orange County area. The fees for this program I was told varied on a scale depending on your income. Well this was true except for me becuase I was an out of county transfer. So I had to pay a set fee which was the highest amount daily of $20.00 per day x 41 days ordered by the court. $820.00 dollars is what I had to pay to Sentinal in order for them to accept me. They do take payments but you have to be able to pay a good amount right from the start on the first day or else you are kicked out and violated. If you miss a payment they violate you, If you miss their weekly meetings, violated. They are very quick to report you to your probation officer which could mean jail time becuase of something like money.
I had a medical emergency while under their program and was in the hospital for 2 days which I had to make sure I notified my case worker. What happens they end up adding 3 more days to my house arrest. I couldnt belive that this was happening. More money! They even tried to add on drug testing which I refused becuase my case had nothing to do with drugs and each of their test were $25.00 on top of the ankle monitor fee. Also they make you tell your employer that your being monitored and to have your supervisor sign off on their work sheets. Well of course I was "let go" the day after I told my employer. This also got me violated becuase you are to have gainful employment to pay or else they wont accept your case. I used all my savings to give them half of my amount but I was to give them the other half two weeks later or else VIOLATED! I was so scared I ended up calling my sick mother in Arizona who drove to Ca to be at my next appt with them. She herself felt that it was unfair considering I no longer had a job thanks to their requirements.
When my case worker told her that if I didnt pay I was going to jail she got very upset. I said fine then jail it is just give me my money back to which they replied that I would get no refund! So my mother gave them her credit card and also told them where to stick their serivces. She also demanded a receipt and requested that I be allowed to attend my brothers funeral services. Well of course the day of the funeral comes and I was denied because it was going to be on a boat in the harbor. I had to miss my own brothers funeral. They only allow you to leave the house for three hours per week total. I know I caused my situation but they set you up for failure too. Their fees need to be addressed becuase its a bad economy. Oh yeah and dare to get upset with them and they think your disrespectful and they can violate you no questions asked. I think they are given too much power and use their duress tactics of violation meaning jail! Where does all that money go???
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