Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
The Cameron County District Attorney's Office has announced their intention to utilize the third party company AVERTEST for Random Urinary Analysis as a condition of Pre Trial Diversion ("PTD") contracts, including those PTDs which have already commenced.
This policy would subject PTD participants to check in 365 times a year see if "randomly" selected for testing. If selected, they must report to one of two collection facilities in Cameron County by 5 pm that very day, unless it is a weekend or holiday, in which case they only have until noon. Failure to call in or report for testing on the day selected would be considered a violation of their PTD agreement. This means that no PTD participant, according the policy being implemented, would be able to leave Cameron County at all during the term of the program for fear of being selected.
While this may be appropriate for programs such as Drug Impact Court, it is grossly inappropriate for participants in the PTD program, who must meet stringent requirements just to be considered for the program, such as being a first time offender, among many others.
Moreover, the District Attorney's Office, while claiming AVERTEST helps them achieve true randomness in selection, has admitted that probation officers are able to influence the frequency of testing for specific individuals. This defeats the randomness of selection, and further allows AVERTEST to increase their profits by increasing the oppression imposed on these FIRST TIME OFFENDERS. This is immoral and unjust.
We are vehemently opposed to the implementation of this policy, and we urge the District Attorney's Office to change their course in this matter, and to further refrain from implementing ANY policy which shirks the responsibilities of the county in favor of private companies whose profits are directly proportional to the punishment of Cameron County citizens.
Justice, and the People of our County, are NOT FOR SALE.
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Updates
October 8, 2015
The feedback from participants has been eye-opening. I am currently compiling your experiences to present directly to the leadership at the District Attorney's office.
17 Comments
I understand that there is some burden placed onto PTD clients, however this issue about calling in everyday is nothing more than Avertest being lazy in attempting to correct their software issues and moving the burden to its client. Such a horrible company in my opinion. How hard is it to get a list of all the PTD clients and then having a piece of software select a person on any given day and automating a call/text/email to PTD client to come in for such test? As a software developer/coder myself, this is nothing more than the IT team on Avertest's end being lazy and simply telling their director "The fix is for clients to call in everyday." Nonsense!
I understand PTD clients are being given a tremendous opportunity to correct a wrong, but this passed/proposed policy if followed, might end up costing some of our clients their jobs!
They are also violating the current stay at home order as they are not essential. With no social distancing available to client. Again all about the money ands not the he as lth ands well being of clients who should not even be there as PTD offenders to begin with. Money before virus safety. Sad and disgusting.
I need to see long-term studies on how random testing influences alcohol/drug consumption post-probation because I doubt the data supports this system currently in place, at least not to a significant degree. Sounds like a profit-driven revenue scheme affecting a disproportionate amount of poor and minority peoples...
This form of observed testing is invasive and inappropriate
I will not be intimidated to participate in this program, and neither should anyone else.
this is just so wrong.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
The Cameron County District Attorney's Office has announced their intention to utilize the third party company AVERTEST for Random Urinary Analysis as a condition of Pre Trial Diversion ("PTD") contracts, including those PTDs which have already commenced.
This policy would subject PTD participants to check in 365 times a year see if "randomly" selected for testing. If selected, they must report to one of two collection facilities in Cameron County by 5 pm that very day, unless it is a weekend or holiday, in which case they only have until noon. Failure to call in or report for testing on the day selected would be considered a violation of their PTD agreement. This means that no PTD participant, according the policy being implemented, would be able to leave Cameron County at all during the term of the program for fear of being selected.
While this may be appropriate for programs such as Drug Impact Court, it is grossly inappropriate for participants in the PTD program, who must meet stringent requirements just to be considered for the program, such as being a first time offender, among many others.
Moreover, the District Attorney's Office, while claiming AVERTEST helps them achieve true randomness in selection, has admitted that probation officers are able to influence the frequency of testing for specific individuals. This defeats the randomness of selection, and further allows AVERTEST to increase their profits by increasing the oppression imposed on these FIRST TIME OFFENDERS. This is immoral and unjust.
We are vehemently opposed to the implementation of this policy, and we urge the District Attorney's Office to change their course in this matter, and to further refrain from implementing ANY policy which shirks the responsibilities of the county in favor of private companies whose profits are directly proportional to the punishment of Cameron County citizens.
Justice, and the People of our County, are NOT FOR SALE.
Updates
October 8, 2015
The feedback from participants has been eye-opening. I am currently compiling your experiences to present directly to the leadership at the District Attorney's office.
17 Comments
I live in Edinburg. It's very hard to randomly go to cameron county for a drug test especially when they are back to back I have to dish out 35 dollars. It will be very hard . I don't have a driver's license so I always have to find somebody to take me.
I understand that there is some burden placed onto PTD clients, however this issue about calling in everyday is nothing more than Avertest being lazy in attempting to correct their software issues and moving the burden to its client. Such a horrible company in my opinion. How hard is it to get a list of all the PTD clients and then having a piece of software select a person on any given day and automating a call/text/email to PTD client to come in for such test? As a software developer/coder myself, this is nothing more than the IT team on Avertest's end being lazy and simply telling their director "The fix is for clients to call in everyday." Nonsense!
I understand PTD clients are being given a tremendous opportunity to correct a wrong, but this passed/proposed policy if followed, might end up costing some of our clients their jobs!
They are also violating the current stay at home order as they are not essential. With no social distancing available to client. Again all about the money ands not the he as lth ands well being of clients who should not even be there as PTD offenders to begin with. Money before virus safety. Sad and disgusting.
I need to see long-term studies on how random testing influences alcohol/drug consumption post-probation because I doubt the data supports this system currently in place, at least not to a significant degree. Sounds like a profit-driven revenue scheme affecting a disproportionate amount of poor and minority peoples...
This form of observed testing is invasive and inappropriate
I will not be intimidated to participate in this program, and neither should anyone else.
this is just so wrong.
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I live in Edinburg. It's very hard to randomly go to cameron county for a drug test especially when they are back to back I have to dish out 35 dollars. It will be very hard . I don't have a driver's license so I always have to find somebody to take me.