JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process: Seth: pre sentencing you had to do tests alot of
questions and you spent alot of time in the cell
talking to the officers captain and you might have
sled or other officers depending what charge you
were charged with and it might be everyday that
you would have to do this daily Ellen: I WAS BOOKED INTO THE FACILITY AND THE ENTIRE
PROCESS WAS A LONG GRUELING EIGHT HOURS DUE TO A
LONG SHIFT CHANGE.I WASN'T BROUGHT TO THE WOMENS
DORM UNTIL 1AM AND OF COURSE INMATES ARE WOKEN UP
AROUND 5AM FOR BREAKFAST SO IT WAS AN
UNCOMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE TO ENDURE.THEY HOLD
PRELIMINARY HEARINGS AT THE JAIL BUT THEY DON'T
LET YOU KNOW WHEN. Isaac: During intake I was asked a lot of personal
questions, fingerprinted and photographed. If
you're not in a holding cell you are allowed to
use the payphone during intake. The phone allows
for one free local call. I was then questioned
again by the nurse concerning medical
needs/history. After that you are given a jail
uniform and send to the Orientation dorm. Here you
are kept in a room by yourself and let out
periodically to make phone calls and watch tv.
Bond court will usually be held the same day as
your arrest. There the judge will decide what
bond, if any, he or she will give you. DUI, simple
possession of marijuana, public disorderly
conduct, and other less serious offenses will
receive a PR bond, which means you get to go home
for free, but not immediately. It will still take
them approximately 4-8 hours to get your paperwork
processed and allow you to be released. If you
don't post bond within a day or two you will be
classified based on various factors and send to
another unit.
JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested. Seth: was at richland county library i was using the
computer and one of the agents came up and put
handcuffs on me and at the library inside the
building they were not suppose to hadcuff you
inside but they said to the security we do not
listen to you at all it was not nice Ellen: NO I WAS ARRESTED WHEN COMING BACK FROM VACATION.
MY EMPLOYEE CALLED WHILE I WAS AWAY ASKING TO USE
MY TRUCK AND TRAILER TO MOVE HIS STUFF OUT, I
AGREED, TRUSTING HIM AND HE USED IT TO STEAL A CAR
INSTEAD SO I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM SHERIFF SAYING
I MUST RETURN TO COLUMBIA TO BE QUESTIONED. AT
TIME OF QUESTIONING I WAS ARRESTED. Isaac: I was arrested following an assault that occurred
at my home. I was placed in the back of the police
car and transported to a neutral zone so that the
county transport van could pick me up. Then I was
taken to the county jail and dropped off for intake.
JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall. Seth: cold and hateful the judge was okay but the
officers were very disrespectful it was a big
court room and alot of inmates or other people who
was going to court for alot of different reasons
the court was a large room but you may have like
only 10 or 15 inmates there to be tried Ellen: THEY WAKE YOU UP AT 3:30AM, BRING YOU UPFRONT TO
BOOKING INTO A COLD TINY HARD HOLDING CELL UNTIL
BREAKFAST AT 5:30 THEN CLEANING COMES AROUND SO
THEY MAKE YOU WAIT TIL THEY'RE FINISHED THEN
AROUND 8:30-9AM YOU'RE CALLED OUT BY NAME AND
PATTED DOWN THEN CHAINED TO ANOTHER INMATE BEFORE
BEING PLACED IN THE PADDY WAGON FOR TRANSPORT. Isaac: Bond court in Richland county is held in a small
room divided by a fence. On one side there is
seating for the inmates and on the other there is
a judge's bench and a desk. Names are called one
by one and people are told what they are being
charged with. You're allowed to speak, but what
you say will have no real effect on the judge's
decision.
JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of? Seth: i was charged with 3rd offense failure to register
as sex offenf=der Ellen: ORIGINAL CHARGES: BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT
CONVICTED: GRAND THEFT Isaac: Criminal domestic violence of a high and
aggravated nature and two counts of 2nd degree
assault and battery. I have not yet been to court
for these charges. My bond was set at $50,000.