Should I tell my probation officer?

I am on felony probation in Santa Barbara, CA for drugs. I got a travel pass for a few weeks and my girlfriend and I drove to michigan for vacation. We were arrested in nebraska with drugs in the trunk of our car. My girl said everything was hers, but they still gave us each a ticket with the same charges on it. We have court on Sept 17th and she is still planning on telling them it was hers and hopefully I will not be charged with any of it. I have a probation appointment on Sep 2 and need to know if I should tell my probation officer about the arrest. It's in my order that I have to report any arrests to them. Will they arrest me for violation if I tell them? Even though we haven't gone to court about it yet? If I don't tell them, what are the chances that the people in Nebraska will alert them of it?

No one here is a statistician---and even if they were, they wouldn't have enough information to calculate the odds of your parole officer finding out.

Are you the registered owner of the vehicle?

Another thing of which you need to be aware---and these are calculations you can do yourself. I am going to assume your companion does not have a criminal record. Now--calculate the ODDS that the police, when faced with a FELON with previous drug charges, will believe the DRUGS in the trunk belong to HER and not to you? I also find it regrettable that you admit the drugs were yours, yet you are willing for someone you "love" ( girlfriend?) to take a serious rap for you that will affect the rest of HER life.

Nothing says I Love You like a felony drug charge.

If you are going to calculate anything, calculate what will happen IF they DO find out and you with held that information. The "benefit" (i.e. gamble) of not telling them pales in comparison with what COULD happen if they DO find out. You know as well as I do that if your PO finds out what happened--and he hears it from someone else, he will dog you like a German shepherd chasing a cat. You stated your order says you must inform them. Obviously, you are worried of what will happen if you do--you may face charges, right? Consider what will happen if you DO NOT tell them. You will face charges for NOT TELLING as well as whatever charges may be handed down for your last foray onto the dark side. Charges are a given. But NOT telling means you WILL most certainly face TWO. You have an opportunity to save a remnant of trust---I would grasp it with both hands and for once, avail yourself of the opportunity to do the right thing.

Honesty really IS the best policy.

Life is short. Life is precious. You are free to make the choices that you wish, obviously. But, please consider a second time before ruining someone else's life for YOUR choices. It is a heavy cross to bear. There may come a time she may actually want to make something appreciable of her life other than being a felon. If you care for her at all, do both of you a favor--and tell the truth. All of it.

Actually the drugs in the trunk were both of ours equally. It was our decision, that we made together, to carry them with us. She wasn't just along for the ride. Just because she does not have a criminal record, does not mean that she isn't a drug user. She is the registered owner of the car, and she felt that it is pointless for us both to be charged with the exact same thing.

Also, my main question that I wanted answered id What is going to happen to me when I tell my probation officer? I am planning on telling him, but am not sure what to expect. Do they arrest me for violation before we go to court in nebraska? And what happens if I my charges are dropped, will it still be considered a violation?

Sorry--is that like matching tattoos? Matching felony records? What a shame. Nothing like a gal who will take a felony drug rap for you and for her ( although you admit there was equal culpability). Great gal--a real keeper.

Also, I never said she wasn't a drug user. But, that is irrelevant in this case---is she being charged with USING DRUGS? I missed where your posting said that.

The answer to your other question is the same as I said before. There is no way for anyone to predict what will happen when you tell your PO. I am not in your state and I do not know the law. Perhaps you could review the paperwork you have been given. I suspect it states very clearly what will happen if you violate any terms of your probation.

The other part of the answer is simple. It is a violation of your parole to be ARRESTED (according to what you posted here). So, even if you AREN'T found guilty, you were still arrested. You aren't in violation of your parole for being found guilty of a crime. According to your posting, you are in violation of your parole for being ARRESTED and CHARGED with a crime.

The fact that the charges are dropped for whatever reason doesn't mean it negates the arrest itself.

Good luck.