Tales of Probation - "Nothing Good Happens After Midnight"

Spent 26 years as a probation officer

Worked for 7 judges, one for 16 years

Started with a caseload of 450 plus defendants

For the first 5 years, averaged interviewing 1000 to 1200 defendants per year

Supervised 15,000 plus defendants along with an additional 5,000 plus u/a cases

Testified 8,000 plus times in court

70 % of defendants completed, 25% went to jail (3800), 5% outstanding warrants

Spent almost 13 years in a courtroom, witnessed thousands of defendants going to jail

Everyone on probation is guilty and has a suspended sentence which they agreed to when they took their plea. It is their probation and if they violate it, that sentence can be enforced. My job was to remind them of the consequences of their actions. If they violated their probation, they went to jail for their sentence.  About 25% of my defendants went to jail.

is an interesting experience. When you sit down to interview someone, you never know what you are going to get. 

Over the years, I have heard everything including: 

From an exasperated Judge – “Finding an attorney is like herding cats.”

From a young kid from the projects – “I’m not worried, I got a 9 and a 357 to protect me.” Unfortunately, he died a horrible death, and his guns did not protect him.

“I want my kids back.” These were the first words from an opiate addict who still had mothering instincts left in her. She went to jail three times before getting clean.

From an out of touch pot smoker. “Do you want this now or later, it is my Colorado “Weed Card.”  My response, “you know you are in Tennessee, don’t you and by the way, did you get high this morning?” His response, “how did you know?”

Attorney to me – “You act like my client is guilty.” My response, “am not sure where you attended law school, but your client def has already been found guilty and is on probation with a suspended sentence.”

From a medical report on a defendant with mental issues, he reported: “he hit himself in the head with a 2x4 to feel pain.”

“Have a seat,” was what my Judge said when she was revoking someone on a bond docket. Within a minute or so, a court officer would arrive with a set of handcuffs for the defendant.

“I turned when my GPS said turn,” said the intoxicated girl who listened to her GPS and turned her sub-compact car directly onto railroad tracks thus stranding it there.

In the early 1990’s, Nashville was a sleepy medium size town. The downtown area and party scene was almost non-existent except for Printer’s Alley.  Lower Broad was not safe after dark and was full of XXX rated peep shows and dive bars.

Things changed in 1994, when the Wildhorse Saloon and Ryman opened and they drew people back downtown to party and go to concerts, and 2nd Avenue became the party district. Our arena opened on Lower Broad in 1997 for concerts and our NHL team, the Nashville Predators.  This brought more people downtown.  In 1999, the Titans played their first game at the stadium across the river.  Before and after the game, people flocked to Lower Broad to eat, drink and party.

By 2015, motel room rates in Nashville, TN equaled or surpassed those in New York City. And Nashville became the “IT-CITY,” and Bachelorette capital of the USA!!!!  Every day, open air party buses drove around downtown full of tourists partying to loud music. 

 We are no longer a sleepy little town!

Hal Gibbs possesses an "insider" perspective of the Tennessee legal system after supervising over 20,000 plus criminal defendants and providing expert testimony in over 8,000 court hearings during his 26-year career.  As a probation officer for the General Sessions Court in Nashville, Tennessee, he stood on the front lines of the justice system and served seven different judges.  Dealing daily with misdemeanors, he supervised drug cases, DUI’s, theft charges, a variety of other criminal cases and the reality of working with politicians.  During these years, he gained a unique perspective on the human condition, and these experiences now fuel his writing.

He holds a BS from Middle Tennessee State University and a CEM from the University of Notre Dame.  His literary debut, the memoir "And the Beat Goes On," was featured in the Spring 2024 edition of Southern Reader.  When he isn't writing with his long-time workshop group, "Writer’s Friends,"  Hal remains deeply involved in his community, organizing alumni reunions for his high school class and college fraternity.  Over the years, he has volunteered and raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Wreaths Across America and Toys for Tots.  He currently lives in Middle Tennessee with his wife, where he enjoys photography and his family