Q: I'm on probation in californnia, to what extent am I (or persons on probation in general) under surveillance?
For example, is it normal for persons on probation to be followed physically, what about monitoring electronic communications at the home? would it for example be in scope to use some kind of exploits or other attacks? I'm wondering what is the normal level of surveillance for someone on felony probation and what is the scope of this surveillance
A: The terms and conditions of formal felony probation are ordered by the court and listed in the probation report for each specific defendant. Some people are ordered to provide the password to their cell phones to enable the P.O. to search the phone in a drug sales case, for example. But every case has a general condition that the probationer is subject to warrantless searches (with or without probable cause.) This doesn’t mean police can violate your right of privacy by electronically monitoring your communications or surveilling your activities (assuming you’re serving a sentence on an ankle monitor!)
Dan Moseley agrees with this answer
A: If by "surveilled" you mean "constantly under watch by video and/or audio devices" there is no such condition, as even parolees have a right to privacy, however limited it may be to permit warrantless searches.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
