Just got back from court. I'm devastated. Yep. That's the right word. Devastated. I was sentenced to $600 court costs and fines plus alcohol tether for 30 days and 30 days jail. I go in front of the judge on Feb 17th for a review. Probation officer said pretty much that if i'm still on tether and am doing okay that he'll probably just extend it the 30 days I'm supposed to be in jail. I have until next Thursday the 22nd to go to Hamtramck to get the tether put on me. I need $260 when I show up. Plus it's $105 a week. I'm going to take a nap right now because I can't think about this right now. The tether itself doesn't worry me. I can go 60 days without drinking. That's no big deal. It's the money. Everytime we think we're going to get ahead, we get hit. And it's all my fault, I know it is. I'm not escaping blame. But an ALCOHOL TETHER for a non- alcohol related offense!?!?! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!

Under the house arrest tether, the defendant is required to lease an ankle bracelet and computer reporting device. The cost, a deposit for the devices as well as a per day fee, are paid by the defendant. The bracelet is to be worn at all times during the term of the program and the computer reporting device located in the home tracks when the participant is at home as ordered by the court. Defendants are allowed to leave for employment and court ordered activities only. Should the defendant damage the device in any way, not only will s/he be charged with a probation violation and required to pay for the cost of the device that was damaged, s/he will be charged criminally. These services are provided by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Tether Program which makes it a priority to go out and arrest violators.

The alcohol tether device is similar to the house arrest tether, except that the defendant has the additional ability to test the defendant’s breath for alcohol. The defendant is required to blow into a device attached to their telephone line. This device measures the defendant’s blood alcohol content. If alcohol is detected, the defendant will be brought to court to show cause why he/she should not be held in contempt for a violation of their probation and punished accordingly. Violators often go to jail.