by Heli » Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:47 am
Case received January 25, 2010 by Corrections.
From case notes, Ms. Susan Finnigan testifies by telephone:
Entered into database and assigned to probation officer.
January 26, 2010 intake supervisor received and noted one year probation ordered.
Probation located offender in Orange County Jail.
Probation went to visit Anthony, instructed her on terms.
Intake package to Anthony. Special terms to have no contact with Huizenga.
Only standard terms of probation in the order.
Monitored the case. Each month checked to make sure she was in jail until 90 days of termination.
Checked residence compliance every month.
Each month records checked to make sure no new charges on Anthony.
Checked to ensure she had not possessed any contraband etc. while incarcerated.
March 10, 2010 supervision orders audited.
Sentence structure audited. Comparing database against judge's order.
90 pre-term review. No problems found to prevent Anthony's termination.
December 15, 2010 last entry before taken off probation.
Tolling Ms. Anthony's probation considered.
In 31 years never had case where probation to begin at unknown time so this order not tolled.
States media coverage as a consideration in supervising probation now.
Always considered about the safety of probation officers, not just in this case.
All public attention would be a unique challenge.
Cost of supervision was waived by Department of Corrections since she was in custody.
Probation terminated on January 24, 2011.
Sent a routine termination letter.
Letter to victim, Amy Huizenga, to inform that Anthony was on probation and to inform about prohibition against contact between Huizenga and Anthony.
Cross-examination by Mr. George:
Purpose of probation?
A. Protection of the community, restitution.
Q. Not intended to review or look over or help people already in custody, is it?
A. Not sure I understand.
MR. BAEZ: Objection. Outside the scope.
Q. Purpose of probation is to supervise those released from custody.
A. If they're released it's to supervise their reintegration into a law abiding life style.
Q. To help them assimilate into the community, is it not?
A. Main purpose is to carry out the court's conditions in the community.
Q. Fair to say it's not normal practice to supervise while in custody?
A. I would not say it's normal but it does happen on occasion.
Q. What occasion does it happen?
A. When there are subsequent dockets, a person is sentence on several dockets ...
Q. Standard conditions of probation ... standard conditions when out of custody is to report every 30 days ..
A. Yes. Once per month.
Q. Normal condition is cost of supervision ..
A. Correct.
Q. Your department went out on January 25, 2010 to sign Ms. Anthony up.
A. She was signed up in database on that date. We did not go out to instruct her until ....
(lost the feed ... refreshing)
Q. Guideline to department when probation to begin. The words "when released" have meaning. Correct?
A. Correct.
Q. More than one case running is not ususual for an i ncarcerated person.
A. Correct.
Q. So more than one case running for an incarcerated person is not so confusing for your department ....
A. I'm confused on that.
Q. Upon release, you've come across that before, have you not?
A. Yes.
Q. Is there mechanism you have to determine whether order that prisoner report within certain number of days of release from jail?
A. Yes. We do.
Q. If Ms. Anthony were ordered to report to probation or start probationary term, would that entail her reporting to your office?
A. Intake office to be assigned a probation officer.
Q. Reporting would be once a month?
A. Yes.
Q. Could vary?
A. Yes.
Q. Cost of supervision was waived, administrative decision by your department?
A. Yes. By me.
Q. Because Anthony incarcerated.
A. Yes.
Q. She couldnt' violate community supervision while incarcerated unless ....
A. Yes. Or the special condition of contacting the victim.
Q. Position that Ms. Anthony has completed probation.
A. At the time of my review in January of 2011, yes.
Re-examination by Mr. Baez:
Q. Ms. Anthony when serving probation, was not under any sentence.
A. Correct.
Q. She was exposed to the possible and potential punishment of violation of probation.
A. Correct.
Q. Concept of starting probation on some day ... when someone is sentenced to a specific time that's under the policies and procedures of Correction Department.
A. Release date controlled by the jail.
Q. Any subsequent probation would begin after that.
A. Correct.
