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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Matthew, Michelle and Art

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Matthew: It has been extremely slow, and also moderately fast at certain times of the week, before you go see a judge. Most of the time, they send an official to see you about 6-10 hours prior to your booking to try and get you through the system faster, or be released quicker. For being a judicial system, it is fairly quick.
Michelle: well i am actually still working through my case. it has been going on for about a year now. when i was first booked in my bond was $50,000. after about 4 months my lawyer had a conditions of realease hearing to either get me realeased o.r. or have my bond reduced. it was reduced to 10,000 so may 1st i was able to borrow a $1000 dollars and bond out.
Art: Pre sentancing was pretty basic somewhat unprofessional agressive and quite pushy..before im sentanced usually it take one to 5 months for a typical case which is crazy to be sitting locked uo that long for something so petty.pre sentance you hear nothing about till your in court so thats when you worry

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Matthew: No, they did not come to my house. Most of the time ,upon my arrest, I am in a vehicle or out in public. My most recent arrest was on private property at a circle K convienent store, for aggravated assault, I defended myself with a weapon in a fight. The second most recent was a DUI, due to an ex-friend's calling the police after we got into an argument and a shoving match.
Michelle: no. i was pulled over in a car that had drugs in it. i was the passenger and there were two people in the back seat. me and the driver were taken in for what was in the car and the other two were set free. to be honest with you it was kind of a shady situation as far as them charging me with what was in the car, but i have a good lawyer and he is doing his best to prove that.
Art: Yes they come when thry can or there is a legitment reason to question me..ypd will sit outside of a club and wait for you to slip up...if they think they have. Something because of your apperance or because of yur past they will disregard the law and go with what they feels is right

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Matthew: The courtrooms are always kept up clean and very comfortable atmosphere, despite the circumstances your in. For the most part, the court is empty with just a judge and a bailiff. Most of the time, the judge is fair and sentences you to the minimal of punishment, but there are times when the sentence does NOT fit the crime. During those times, You basically are treated like an animal in a cage with the utmost disrespect.
Michelle: well i have had a number of hearings on this case. it has been remanded (started over) a couple times. all starting with arrainment though annd then set for what ever type of hearing the judge feels is appropriate from there. while sitting in jail it is very frustrating because it is not uncommon for hearings to get continued a coulple times even. when that happens the continue date is usually set for about a month off. if i had not bonded out i would still be in jail and it has been almost a year.
Art: Court was brief seems that they want to incarcerate mor than rehabilitate and its creating more debt by just pushing people to the side forgetting them when they have jobs families bills to pay,,,i think its outrageous they can give you 6 months for arguing ior any kind of dmestic or misdemeanor

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Matthew: Most recent was the aggravated assault. The conclusion was that NO charges were pending or pressed. I was free to go after 4 days in jail. The 2nd most recent was my DUI. I was convicted of DUI and sentenced with 2 weeks jail, $3,300 fine, and an ignition interlock.
Michelle: the police had charged me with possession of a dangerous drug and drug paraphenilia. and the driver was charged with sales for having multiple baggies and a scale in the car. the d.a. then changed my charges to the same charges as the driver...sales. i am not yet convicted.
Art: Class 6 posession of parfanelia...arizona 0 tolerance for everything

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