Can My Probation Officer Search My Parents' Room?

Answer: It depends on who has access/control over the space, the specific terms of the probation, and the laws of the jurisdiction you are on probation in.

In the article that follows, we’ll explain.

Can My Probation Officer Search My Parents’ Room? (Explained)

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Conditions of Probation/Rights of the Offender

Citizens of the state/jurisdiction and of the United States have many important rights that we all work to protect and preserve.

That being said, when a defendant is placed on probation, some of those rights do not apply in the same manner.

While on probation, the defendant is often ordered to:

pay fees and restitution
not use or possess controlled substances
submit to testing to determine whether the defendant has used any banned substances
participate in substance abuse treatment
stay in the state
not possess weapons
get a job or go to school (or both)
allow the probation officer to visit the defendant at work
allow the probation officer to visit the residence he lives in and to allow a walk-through common areas and rooms under the control of the defendant
consent to a search of his person, car, or residence if reasonable grounds exist that contraband will be found
obey all laws

The requirement that the defendant “consent to a search” is an interesting one, because consent is generally thought to be something freely and voluntarily granted.

In many states, the defendant can choose to not give consent, at the risk of being sanctioned or even having his probation terminated.

If the defendant refuses to give consent, the probation officer would have to go through the process of obtaining a warrant and be prepared to support the basis of the warrant with actual evidence.

Searching Rooms In The House Under The Control Of The Defendant

States differ in the extent that the probation officer can search through the house, and before you take action on any of this information, we recommend that you check your state specific laws.

Generally, in most states, the probation officer is limited to searching common areas and the rooms that the defendant has use of or control of.

That ability to search generally won’t extend to other buildings on the property (garages, workshops, sheds) unless the defendant has control over them.

But what if the defendant has access and use of rooms but no control over them?

Technically, the individuals/cohabitants who control the spaces are the only ones that can give consent to the search/walk-through of the spaces.

What If The Cohabitant Does Not Give Consent?

If the cohabitants of the property do not give consent, the probation officer has two options.

One, he can leave and come back with a police officer and a warrant.

Two, he can do the search anyway, and have to answer to the court when the defendant’s lawyer files a motion to suppress/throw out anything discovered during the search.

He may also have to answer to the agency’s general counsel after the cohabitants file a tort claim notice demanding damages for the trespass.

The state’s specific laws (as well as the terms of the probation) will come into play, and the government will have to prove that the probation officer had the right to search the spaces that consent was not granted for.

The court will decide whether the search was legal or not.

Why Most People Consent To The Search

While a defendant has the right to consent to the search or not, the probation officer has a lot of control over the rest of the defendant’s life.

For example, a defendant can only reside in a location that the probation officer approves.

If the defendant resides in a location that the probation officer cannot walk through freely, or the cohabitants are not open to having the probation officer walk through, the probation officer might revoke his approval of the residence.

The defendant (and his roommates, spouse, children, parents, friends) will have to make the decision to consent or not to the request of the probation officer, knowing that exercising the right to say ‘no’ could mean some big changes in the probationer’s life while probation continues.

Should You Consent?

We can’t answer that, primarily because we are not your lawyers. In addition, we don’t know your circumstances and we don’t know where you are located in the country.

Instead, if you are struggling with a probation officer, you should confer with an attorney who practices in the court where the case is being handled or where the probation is being supervised (especially in the case of a transfer).

The local lawyer is the right person to provide legal advice and answers to these kinds of questions.

Wrap Up

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