The Old Adage is New: Payment is Compliance

An old adage in probation is, "Payment is Compliance." Walk around the halls at any adult probation office in the nation and you will see at least one sign above a desk reminding us all of this steadfast rule. However, the old rule is "kind of" new again, and people need to sit up and take notice. As minimum wages go up, so do court costs. People can earn themselves an extra payment plan that the courts call "restitution and payments". Those who commit a crime and refuse the (possible) option of probation...who don't want to do community service, or who don't care that much about their families may serve out their time in a jail somewhere. This cold hard fact is certainly not very appealing to many of us. But staying out of jail costs someone money, and that someone is the defendant.

For many people, keeping up with paying their fines is one of the most difficult parts of being on probation. So, in order to help, Pima County Adult Probation developed an in-depth financial literacy program to help people get into the swing of banking and saving, and that is where this blog comes into action. "Show Me The Money!" is a once a week, five week program designed to motivate people to cut corners and save more. By sharing information and learning how to get out from underneath debt, people can begin to get ahead. In probation circles this means complying with the courts and taking charge of financial obligations. I decided I should address this underlying challenge of payment compliance right here - upfront, but not to personal.

The other day I was talking with a supervisor who explained some things to me about payment compliance. He explained that many inmates in jail would gladly pay $2 a day to be "out"... working. They could then go home at nights and enjoy time with their families. That is what probation is all about - giving people an opportunity to have some kind of life while they make work to better themselves, take classes/counseling, and make restitution with the courts and/or a victim. When an officer is encouraging a client to make a payment he is attempting to help someone stay compliant and out of jail. The goal is to keep the case moving ahead in a forward direction so that termination occurs on schedule, or sooner if at all possible. A probation officer's main goal is to supervise and assist people in getting ahead, not to make their life miserable as some people may mis-think. Keeping up with payments and such is only one part of an officer's challenging job, and it is a necessary one.

Clients need to appreciate that at any time supervisors may suggest revocation to an officer, or vice versa. At the judge's decision, a case can be revoked, whereby the defendant is re-arrested and returns to jail. When someone tells me it is more important to keep food on the table for their child than to pay restitution that month, I have to remind them that if they are in jail for failure to pay, someone else will be taking care of their child. The cold hard fact is that probation comes first and people have to find the means to "Get the job done regardless of their other responsibilities." Sometimes I will ask someone to rank the importance of what it is worth to them to get off probation. If they say a 10, but they are behind in their payments, then what they are saying and what they are doing are not matching up. Keeping up with payments needs to be a high priority.

I find both anger and resentment holds back quite a few of my workshop participants. They are angry for being put on probation, and they waste valuable time talking/arguing about the circumstances that got them there. I suspect the person they are really angry at is themselves - for trusting another person, for being in the wrong place, for making a poor choice, or for simply getting caught. Probation is about time, education, and the development of a good tool box. It's also about being financially responsible and visiting the county clerk every week, or month, to make that payment. I encourage people to let go of the anger and just deal with the consequences because resentment only makes for a bad day, and goodness knows things are tough out there as it is. Be thankful of the opportunity you have been given to still be a responsible citizen.

When it comes to paying, something is better than nothing - remember that. The Nike ad says it best, "Just do it!" If you have not paid in months, then for one week avoid fast food, a soda, or Starbuck's coffee...and put the $5 in the clerk's payment box. Next time, make a game of it - can you find a way to put in $10 next week? Most of my students, regardless of their income, can do this quite easily I have found. College students know how to stretch their money very well, hence the term "starving college student" and many do it better than anyone. They eat so much spaghetti, Top Ramen, and baked potatoes it makes me shudder. In 1996, I watched one break off the ends of the broccoli at Safeway one time, and I asked her about it. She told me she wasn't going to pay "that much for all the tough ends." College students do what they can to afford staying in school, and they do so knowing in the end that by pinching money they are buying themselves an education, and that someday soon they will be able to afford steak. We should all be so creative.

Be glad this money management workshop is free. Be happy you still get to "go home" everyday. Be glad someone is the courts thought you were good enough for probation (not everyone is). Begin somewhere, and begin today if you already have not, and ask for help along the way. It doesn't matter how well equipped we are, or how fancy our educations are (or, are not). Basically, it doesn't matter who we are...we all need guidance. It's why some people hire accountants, though it's only the smart people who know what their accountants are doing. Know what you are doing with your money. Know where it is going, understand it's control over you, and most of all appreciate it's power and what it can do for you tomorrow instead of just living for today.

All my best to your future success, Shanon