Probation kiosk draws concerns (ATM-style check-in for felons!)

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Probation kiosk draws concerns

10:51 PM CDT on Saturday, September 17, 2005


By BROOKS EGERTON / The Dallas Morning News


Dallas County probation officials say they have a remedy for their crushing caseloads. It looks and works much like an ATM. And some criminals now tell it – not a human being – whether they're behaving themselves.

The probation officials, under fire for losing track of thousands of probationers, want to dramatically increase this automation. They say they use it only with offenders who need the least help and pose the lowest risk to society.

For example, "you're not going to have a whole lot of DWIs," said Teresa Clifton, who oversees the machine at the one regional probation office now using it.

Her statement is not accurate, according to a probation office database obtained by The Dallas Morning News after an open-records dispute. The database, covering the roughly 900 people who have reported to the machine since its inception last year, shows that:

• Nearly half of them were on probation for driving while intoxicated.

• Twenty had been convicted of drunken driving at least three times, making them felons.

• About half of the 900 were on probation for other felonies, including drug dealing, burglary, engaging in organized crime and, in a few cases, robbery.

• One had attacked two police officers and tried to seize their guns. Under the probation department's written policy, people who have assaulted public servants aren't supposed to report to the machine.

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