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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Seth, Ellen and Isaac

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.

Read about sentencing in the Richland County Jail

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