Interview with Mickey, Nate, Anne, Ryan, Erik and Chris
JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process: Mickey: The process to get to sentencing was very lengthy
for my most severe charge. I was charged with
Robbery (a 2nd degree felony), convicted of Theft
(a class A misdemeanor). I had to appear before
the judge I believe 5 times for roll call due to
lawyer's absences. After that I plead guilty then
went to sentencing. All together this took
probably 9 or 10 months Nate: I broke my probation, so when I went into court
they told me that I had to do my time. Anne: Honestly, I had to call my boyfriend to ask him
what the pre-sentencing was! This was my first
criminal charge, and I don't think there was a
pre-sentencing report. I went to court and was
sentenced that day. Ryan: took roughly 8 hours to get to the extremely brief
pre-sentencing, where they were 'unable' to inform
me as to why exactly the warrant I was picked up
on was issued.. Erik: After being thoroughly searched and having your
property inventoried, I was placed into "the pit"
to wait for a general information review (name,
address, employer, emergency contact) and a photo
being taken. I was then taken to meet with pre
trial services. They review what you are being
held on and ask questions regarding references,
employment history, background and various other
items to determine eligibility of OCR (Over
crowded release) or Pre Trial release. They have
always been honest with me, brutally at times,
about my chances on getting out or if I would be
staying for a length of time. You are then
fingerprinted and wither put in line to meet with
medical, if you are staying, or put in line to go
to the "to be released" section. Chris: I am unsure about the question.x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x
JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested. Mickey: No Nate: No. Anne: No. I was in a living situation and the house
was under investigation. Apparently, the police
conducted an investigation for an undisclosed
amount of time before they served a search
warrant. Ryan: no, probation officer arrested me upon reporting
to AP&P, Erik: After I was found to not have proof of fare on the
train.The officer offered to let me go with a
warning, but I was arrested upon the transit
officer running my name and coming back with a
active warrant from 3 years prior. After the
officer completed paperwork, I was transported
directly to the jail, in the back of the officers
cruiser. Chris: After going on the run for a few months, I decided
to go to court one day and resolve the issue (not
thinking that the judge would incarcerate me but he
did)x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall. Mickey: Not too long because my lawyer was on time and was
able to hand my file to clerk with some of the
first ones that were called. Nate: I wore a semi casual business attire (pants and
a collared shirt tucked in). Anne: I have a serious issue with being late for
appointments, work, my own funeral..etc.
Actually, the first court appearance was
relatively uneventful, with the exception that I
learned quickly how LITTLE TO NO public
representation is offered. My background and
history are stellar, former competitive
bodybuilder and strength coach I hadn't been in
trouble beyond traffic infractions.
The court appearance NEXT is when I was taken
into custody.
I had been reported by my probation officer as
not have taken a drug test that had been randomly
scheduled. I had to appear in court on an 'Order
To Show Cause" on this infraction.
I walked 14 blocks in dress clothes to get to
court, and ended up at the courtroom at 820am
when court was at 8am. In my experience,
including my initial court appearance, the crowd
all funnels into the courtroom at once, and it
was usually at least 20mins to 30 mins behind
schedule. I asked around the group of people
outside of my Judges Courtroom if this was for
the same Judge, etc. and receivedaffirmative
acknowledgement that I was in the right place.
Unfortunately, at the wrong time. I filed into
the courtroom about 845 and sat through what
became apparent was a MURDER TRIAL! I couldn't
bring myself to bother the courtroom and exit, so
I found a slot at approx. 1130am and asked the
Baliff if I was in the right courtroom. After a
word with the judge, he told me to wait. After a
few minutes he produced a 'packet' of papers
stapled together and told me very politely to
take it to the Judges secretary. I immediately
walked into the Reception Office, gave the
secretary the packet of papers to which she icely
thanked me and told me to go back into the
courtroom. Unknowingly, I had given her my own
100,00 arrest warrant. Ryan: none Erik: After breakfast,I was notified by the guard on
duty that I would be going to court. You either go
to video court (most smaller justice courts) or
transported to the actual court house. Video court
is conducted in a room a short walk from the
housing pods. A group of inmates is brought
together and appears in front of a video monitor,
where the judge can be seen. Video court tends to
be rather quick. (less then an hour) If you are
being transported it is far from qick. The inmates
that are to be transported are pulled from the
pods and are marched to the transport area of the
jail. You are then moved to holding cells based
upon the court you are to be transported to. This
process can take up to an hour as hey gather all
the inmates with court dates. This can be a rather
amusing time as male and female inmates are
together in proximity and hijixs run amuck. With
the large amount of people passing by the cell
windows, old friends can be heard yelling for a
quick update of how things are going. After
everyone is organized, each holding cell is send
to kneel on a bench to be shackled, legs and
wrists (Maximum inmates are shackled in there pods
prior to being removed from the pods). You are
then brought to either a bus or a van. The
transport guards tend to be easy going if you
respect them, even turning on the radio for the
ride. After arriving at court you are brought to a
holding area at the courthouse. At the larger
courthouses (district) you are moved from one
holding cell to the other, organised by judge.
Your attorney may come by or you may just be
brought in front of the judge. After your
apperence, you are funneled back to the van/bus
for the ride back. After arrival back to the jail,
you are strip searched. Dont forget to lift your
sack! From start to finish you can be gone from
your cell for most of the day. I have had times
where I was givin a sack lunch, due to missing a
meal. You learn to keep these sack luches, due to
the hunger that occupies your stay at ADC. Chris: Court is probably the most demeaning activity a
"prisoner" will encounter. After going to court,
when they take you back you have to spread your
asshole open for the guards so that they can see if
you are trying to smuggle something in to the jail.x
x x x x
JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of? Erik: I was charged with, felony possession of a
controlled substance (2 counts), drug paraphernalia,
retail theft and criminal trespassing. I took a plea
of one count of non felony drug possession. Chris: Forgery F1 convicted Class A Misdemeanor