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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Rachel, Jason, Kat, JM Advice, Brian, DavidP, keke, Teabag, Crystal, isaac, Lucky, Laydie, Kathy, Lisa, Apache, Janet, Ron, Ryan, Laetia, Dennis, Laura, Fernando, Gail, George, Rich, Mark, John, Juan, Erik, Scott, Shawn, Dominic, James, Carl, Josh, Jose and Edward

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Rachel: the 50 they searched me in and out took all my thining
Jason: I was arrested at O.H. Airport returning from a over seas business trip. I was detained by Customs for Warrent in Texas for a Failure to Appear on a summins that I never recived. I am 53 yrs old and NEVER been arrested in my life for anything..Never. I was told by the judge that I could not post bail to go home and try and find out what the hell was going on. The lady judge would not allow me to speak a word in my defense..NOT A WORD...
Kat: I was there for an Extradition Warrant. I was never told of what was going on or the process. I was arrested by Homeland Security at the Airport -- for bad check warrant -- taken to a city jail put in a cell -- woke up at 4AM moved to the County Courthouse -- put in a bull pen -- saw a lawyer at 1 PM told me that I was going to court -- went to court for 30 sec was told I would be housed at Cook County for up to 30 days until Missouri could pick me up on warrant. Then I was processed medically and paperwork wise -- was moved to DIV 4 cellblock -- no food or water until I got there around midnight. So went without food and water for 34 hours.
JM Advice: Cook County Jail has an unusually high amount of inmate traffic in the door and out. For this reason presentencing usually is not dragged out in the form of police questioning, etc. Unless you are facing while collar crimes there is a very good chance that you will be taken immediately to jail - you may or may not have the opportunity to pay bail and get out of jail until your trial.
Brian: Well, initially, basically I was picked up, it was for driving on a suspended license, so when they took me in, when I was put into the county jail, from actually getting to the court, it took about 8 hours. Most of the time, I was put into different cells where they periodically call your name and transfer you to a different cell. You have to understand that the county jail here is extremely overcrowded. Any person with an offense, whether it's a minor offense or a major offense, they get put into the general holding room. It took about eight hours, I think.
DavidP: I didn't have much of a pre-sentence process. It was a driving- related charge, and it normally doesn't carry jail time for that charge. It does occasionally, but not normally.
keke: it was so messy
Teabag: First court appearance was the Bond hearing
Crystal: The bond court is a travesty of justice. On felonies at 26th and California there is a video bond court, where you are held in a crowded dirty basement and a video hooks you with the courtroom. You illegally are denied access to a public defender and bond is set without your input which is illegal. This is presently being challenged as a class action in the courts. High bails are set compared to the rest of the country because the court clerk keeps ten % even if you are found innocent. This funds the court system and is an incentive for judges to set high bail and refuse to give personal recognizance bails. Public defenders have 100s of cases each and have no more than a minute to look at the arrest report on a misdemeanor and a minute to ask you or your family how much money they can pay in bail so they can argue for what you can pay to be the bail set. The public defenders do the best they can, but don't have much time to talk to you.
isaac: i reported 30 days after sentencing
Lucky: It was a lot of meaningless court dates.
Laydie: the guards were very co-operative, and well schooled,towards the inmates,during our booking processes, they never made us feel belittled.
Kathy: My son in there now, but I was in there years ago. Now my son is going through hell, because they keep continuing his pre-sentencing process.
Lisa: I did not have a pre sentencing
Apache: sat in county jail
Janet: I WENT TO COURT AFEW TIMES AND WAS SENTENCED TO COUNTY TIME. I HAVE BEEN TO COOK COUNTY JAIL APROXIMATLEY 27 DIFFERENT TIMES.
Ron: It sucked
Ryan: My last sentence was only two years for possesion. I was in the county jail for 7 months and was by far the most interesting stints in the county jail yet. Iwas involved in a tobacco and marijana smuggling and sales ring involving a couple workers from Aramark. I was housed in Div. 2 Dorm 4 The Workers Dorm or Central Kitchen. It was more like a summer camp than jail.
Laetia: Verbally abusive, degrading, humiliating and I was told I was already guilty and the police had the proof on VIDEO. all lies!
Dennis: I was on EMU for three months, Day Report for two days.
Laura: Pre-sentencing I was a immature, dumb 17 year old woman. When I was arrested, I was a hothead with any authorities so I was very defiant, verbally not physically. I was pushed around a bit, called a few names until it was discovered I was a minor. I was brought to the Oak Lawn Police Department where I posted bail and waited for my court date. I quivered at the thought of jail time, so I quickly accepted a plea deal. I won't blame it on my attorney, but there were no videos or recordings of my arrest. Looking back it could have clearly been fought and most likely won, but that's all in the past now.
Fernando: first,held there for a year,they gave me a bond hearing,couldnt bond out,had 6 consecutive go back trial dates,my lawyer,asking for conferences with the states attorney,witness investigation by my attorney,which led to testimony which was to my advantage,legally,which led to all charges being down graded,and the states attorney case aganist me was not what he made it up to be.
Gail: The pre-sentencing process was extremely long.Continuances were abundant back in 1997.The case was not made official until the state would pick up the case based on the evidence they had against you.If they did pick up the case you had to wait 90 days to find out I'm pretty sure.
George: I went to court maybe 5 times.Each time they continued it.On the third time the judge was not there so it was continued again.The fourth time the police that had arrested me did not appear.Finally the fifth time the police the arresting police and the judge was in court and they sentenced me to 1 year.
Rich: I APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE ON A STRONG ARM ROBBERY, I PLEAD NO CONTEST BY THE ADICE OF MY PUBLIC DEFENDER. YES UR ASSIGNED A PUBLIC DEFENDER IF YOU WERE'NT PAYING FOR A PRIVATE LAWYER.USUALLY IT ALL SAID AND DONE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. HELL YOU SPEND MORE TIME WAITING TO SEE THE JUDGE THAN UR IN FRONT OF HIM
Mark: i was sentenced through a court which was nerve biting. the process consisted of 401 conferences and trials. at time i would not be in custody and at times i would be in a holding cell coming directly from cook county jail with other inmates on a bus. the process is usually from 5:am until about 6:pm
John: it was horrible correctional officer beating inmates the housing was nasty rays running around officers abusing their power female officers was the worst tgrying to b extra tough just because they knew dat the male officers have their back the bull pins also be two crowded toilets don't work in youll be left in there for hours on in waiting to get back to your tier
Juan: well the charge was felony possesion of drug paraphanelia...i was sentyebnce to be on electic moniotoring(ankle teher)...but the jail would not reales me to the ymca where i reside because of no supposed land line...my pd knew iwas at a ymca but didnt know iwas gonna be held to my probable cause hearing...which initially also got a continuance...so i lost my job and my place because of where i lived...if the pd knew what the rules where i should of got released on ibond so i coulda kept my job...im unemployed and know staying at a homeless shaelter for being caught with a crack pipe
Erik: I WAS ARRESTED FOR A WARRANT IN ANOTHER COUNTY THAT I WASN'T AWARE I HAD, AND HELD IN COOK COUNTY, UNTIL KANE COUNTY CAME TO PICK ME UP, AND ONCE I WAS TRANSFERRED I WENT BEFORE THE JUDGE IN KANE COUNTY FOR A DISORDERLY CHARGE IN ELGIN IL. IN 2011
Scott: You basically wait and wait and wait day in day out for your case to make its way thru the system. if you do not or cannot make bond than you are stuck in that cell house for the duration of you court preceedings. Its dead time that you can never get back.
Jason: The pre-sentencing proces consisted of a background check of my driving abstract. My driving record for the last 15 years was used against me. it included offenses from 3 different states. i had 3 prior driving while suspended which played a part in tghe sentence i was handed down. i was offered 100 days which i negoiated down to 45 of which i had to serve half.
Shawn: the pre sentencing process was terrible i got a bull pen continuance didnt get to speak with a lawyer gave me a 30 day continuance on multiple occassions they were quick to offer a plea deal that was unreasonable never even allowed me a lawyer to speak with just up until i could get the lowest allotted tcs
Dominic: The pre-sentencing process consisted of me agreeing to plead guilty for a light sentence in return. I was briefly interviewed by a representative from the public defender's office to gather positives about my character in order to present to the judge at my sentencing hearing.My family was encouraged to attend the hearing to sway the judge to give me the lightest sentence the law allowed.
James: there was no pre sentence process by the court. upon entering cook county i had to go through the process of getting sorted and processed. this took over 5 hours, with a max of 4 minutes done to evaluate where you was going to be place. i think that what really mattered was if you was extremely weak or extremely aggressive where you sent to the extreme divisions to have you in places where you would be a victim or victimize.
Carl: i had a traffic warrant i spent a night in general lockup till court the next morning at court i was sentenced to 1 month in jail i was then transported to cook county jail were i was processed in and taken to div 4 were i stayed till my release date
Josh: On a telepropter the Prosecution presents evidence to show to have enough proof to prosecute. Judge then sets bail and the next court date. Then the journey begins of processing through Cook County jail which could take up to 18 hours stuffed in bullpens with people who are dope sick. Strip search down a long hallway.
Jose: So, before getting sentenced, I was placed under arrest late at night and stayed in the Buffalo Grove police station overnight until my court appearance that very next day. I was given a court date that was nearly a month away, as I had no lawyer at the time. SO, i served nearly a month of jail time between my arrest and the pretrial.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Rachel: no they just walked into the crib and took me
Jason: NO
Kat: NO
JM Advice: The police may show up and ask you questions, though this obviously won't happen if you are picked up for a driving crime (DUI, etc.) or in the commission of a crime. If the police do come they will most likely be friendly - their job is not to judge you, just to gather information about your crime.
Brian: No, I was basically pulled over for having a brake light out, and then obviously when they checked my driver's license, they realized [I had outstanding tickets], so at that point, they cuffed me and took me directly into the station.
keke: no why does that matter
Teabag: ???? Retarded WTF..... No the Fugitive Squad came (15 plain clothes officers) at 10:30 am..... Kicked the door down after surrounding the house, beat me into submission and took me to CCDOC and booked me in.
Crystal: No
isaac: no
Lucky: No I was in custody.
Kathy: No.
Lisa: no
Apache: no
Janet: YES I HAVE IN THE PAST,SEVERAL TIMES ACTUALLY.
Ron: no
Ryan: No. I was arrested on the street.
Laetia: My partner and her boyfriend, a guy who we hired to renovate a home we just bought began an affair. To get me out of the picture, they accused me of domestic battery that NEVER OCCURED. in fact she battered me i handed a police report to the police. The officer lied and said he had the domestic incident on camera. I was never mirandized
Dennis: No.
Laura: On July 24th 2008 I was arrested and charged with Driving under the influence of alcohol, but I refused to submit to a breathalyzer. Police came to the scene where I had crashed my 1991 Buick Regal into another car that had ran a red light. Both cars were totaled, and I was injured in my car, unconscious. The next thing I remember is I was outside of my car in the street, being asked to submit to a sobriety test. I requested my father, an attorney and medical attention immediately only to be denied and called a "daddy's girl" etc (Police again at this time did not know I was underage). Upon refusal and proclaiming knowing my rights, I was thrown into a squad car, handcuffed on my wrist and ankles. I was brought to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois and handcuffed to a wheelchair. After waiting there for about an hour or so and constantly refusing to give my blood (which they tried to force until my father arrived) they gave up and just sent me to a cell in the Oak Lawn Jail. At the time I was menstruating and asked many times for sanitary products, all which were refused. I was told to go to bed, and when I did fall asleep, I was awoken AGAIN demanded to take a breathalyzer. I refused and they released me on bail.
Fernando: at lounge when thief stole merchandise bag,chased him out of the lounge,caught up with him,took back all the merchandise he had,he went to police on street and told them i robbed him,the officers,turned out to be friends with him,took me to jail,compiscated my merchandise,and towed my car to the pound
Gail: No.Because of the so called crime I committed police were dispatched to my location after receiving calls to 911.I was looked for and upon my decisionto surrender and come out without their knowledge I was smacked around by CPD which engaged us in an altercation when I retaliated.But I whupped his butt.
George: yes,they came by for questioning and I was very upset after arguing with my significant other.The police was very rude and disrespectful.They even pushed my dad down while he was trying to stand in their way.However they were sued for pushing my dad.They finally arrested me and took my to jail.
Rich: NO THE POLICE DID NOT COME BY MY HOUSE CAUSE I WAS APPREHENDED NOT FOR FROM THE SCENE...THEY GOT A CALL FROM SOME TRICK AND THEY WERE DISPATCH IN THE AREA BEFORE I COULD CHANGE MY APPERANCE TO DODGE THEY ASS. THE CAPER WAS SO SPUR OF THE MOMENT ANYWAY.
Mark: no the police never came to my house. every time i was arrested i was basically driving with out a drivers license and it would be a traffic arrest. at time during a stop i would be searched and at that point i would be charged with possession of a controlled substance.
John: no officers came to my house but I was arrested on the street had me on a indictment list they asked my name check the list took me to the station did the fingerprint thing sat in the cell in the police station until the next day in went to the country
Juan: no..i was caught in a back porch with a pie 5 feet away from me...i confessed it was mine and no drugs were on my person...thought the truth would get me out of there but i incriminated my self and they decided to take me under arrest..i pleaded with them but whatever
Erik: NO I WAS AT A CTA PLATFORM SMOKING, AND AN UNDERCOVER COP, WALKED UP ON ME WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE, AND FLASHED HIS BEDGE, AND AT FIRST HIS PARTNER WROTE ME A TICKET, AND AFTER THEY RAN ME, THEY ASKED IF I HAD A WARRANT IN ANOTHER COUNTY, AND I SAID NO, THEN HE SAID ANY SUBURBAN COUNTY I SAID NO, THEN HE SAID ELGIN I TOUGHT ABOUT IT AND SAID OH
Scott: No, I went in them to re-register and was arrested on the spot. they was a detain warrant out for my arrest that I had no idea of and was kind of blind-sided it happen as I was doing all the right things, but once you get in this system it's extremely hard to get out.
Jason: the police did stop by my home. the police however was late as I had turned my self in to the court as I had discovered by my attorney that I had misssed a court date. They came 8 cars in all including 3 U.S. Marshalls. I am still unclear about the purpose of so great of a show of force other than I am 6'6" 255lbs.
Shawn: no,they pulled me in off the street for questioning i asked for a lawyer they said we know you did it just tell us how you did it I explained i never left the victims side the object that was stolen was a block away over a 12 ft sttl fence a block and a half down and all i was doing was walking down an alley
Dominic: I was not questioned by the police at my home. I was arrested as I was exiting a CTA bus. An alert had been issued for my arrest after a robbery at a local store had been committed. The police drew their guns and ordered me to the ground seconds after they spotted me exiting the bus
James: i had missed a court date. i had contacted my attorney who informed me that i had a warrent. the police did go to my house but it was an old address. they came 8 strong. there ws 3 u.s. marshall present. this seemed a bit of over kill as it was for a traffic offense
Carl: no i was arrested when i was stopped for a traffic violation from the i was taken to the town lockup were i was fingerprinted and my picture taken i was then led to a holding pen were i was fed a green bologna sandwich, chips and a juice to await court the next day
Josh: I was at Roosevelt and Ashland on the night of St. Patrick's day at about 2 in the morning drunk out of my mind. We broke the window of Lucky licquors and grabbed a few bottles od licquor. We didnt have the sense to run even as the alarm was going off. Cops were waiting.
Jose: The police stopped me for (supposedly) speeding 53 mph on a 35 mph road. I was pulled over less than a block away from my house. Upon the police questioning if they could search the vehicle, I denied the request. The police falsely stated that they smelled marijuana in the vehicle, which granted them probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, they found drug paraphanelia and I was arrested.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Rachel: i was dressed nice. and the judge was all mean so i didnt even care what happend to me.
Jason: It was a joke, the atty appointed to me did not give 2 Minutes to try to explain what was going on, she did not even know my last name..Or nor did she care. I tryed to explain to the Judge that My Own Brother is a crimnial judge in Texas and she would not let me talk...Some justice..
Kat: You are kidding. I saw a lawyer for maybe 1 minute -- court lasted maybe 30 seconds
JM Advice: Depending on the information gathered during discovery (the process of investigating to find out whether a crime has been committed or not) you may or may not be scheduled for a court appearance. Usually a court appearance will only be scheduled with some pretty convincing evidence - for this reason the judges overseeing criminal courts have usually heard a variety of excuses, half-truths and outright lies. Hire a good attorney if you are facing serious criminal charges - a good attorney may be expensive but the price of an inferior attorney is much higher - somebody who could save you months of time for a few thousand dollars would be well worth his or her retainer. You are typically much better off with a private attorney than a public defender. At all stages of the presentencing process you can expect a lot of waiting - you may wait several hours for your case to come up on the docket, you will spend hours in a holding cell at each stage of the process and former inmates report sometimes being transferred from holding cell to holding cell for no apparent reason. The actual trial date itself may be pushed back several times and end up taking a year or longer in some cases.
Brian: Ok, that took about 7 or 8 hours because I was put into several different holding rooms. It was really overcrowded.
DavidP: I went to court in December of 2005, and I was thinking it would be a quick court appearance, and I'd be done, and it was a quick court appearance, but unfortunately, I went out a door that I didn't anticipate. The judge ruled me guilty of the offense that I was charged with, and right then, the county sheriff took me into custody.
keke: it was horriable
Teabag: 1st: 1 minute in front of the Video Bond Judge to find out I had a NO BOND HOLD. (for the charge of Escape) 2nd: 1 minute to get a 30 day continuance 3rd: 1 minute to get another 35 day continuance after being handed a Grand Jury indictment. 4th: 30 more days while the State prepared their case 5th: When I opened my mouth (instead of waiting for the asshole Public Defender i was assigned) and presented the Judge with legal documents from a prior cout date proving i was not where the Cook County Electronic Monitoring Department claimed i was the day prior to my re- incarceration. The judge determined that the arrest was NULLIE VOID and the state had absolutely no case against me. Even though 1 hour prior to my going in front of the judge i was given an offer of 5 years. I proved that in certain cases the Cook County legal system is almost laughable. I was released the same day (about 10 hours later) after processing out.
Crystal: I represented myself and won 19 cases so far, but I have an MD and a PhD and have studied law for a hobby for decades. Almost everyone should have an attorney. I was convicted on the one case I had an attorney. The judges are ignorant of the law and favor the prosecutors in general although there are a few good ones. What I noticed is that inmates don't know how to keep their mouths shut. Everything you say can be used against you and there are snitches who may tell the guards and prosecutors what you said. The prosecutors are not to be trusted nor are the guards. The best advice is to keep asking your attorney specific detailed questions until you understand what is going on. There is a lot of ignorance among the inmates and those who keep asking short specific questions get through it better. Feel free to ask other inmates what questions you should ask. Dont give much personal information but you can tell others what you are charged with so they can give you questions to ask unless it is a sex offense or beating up a child. Then you shouldn't tell others because you might get hurt in jail. The constant continuances because the State has not produced evidence for trial or due to pretrial motions of your attorney asking for more time to obtain evidence or interview witnesses is frustrating. There is a difference between misdemeanors (sentence may be up to one year) and felonies (sentences may be more than one year and much more consequences). In misdemeanors there is no arraignment before entering your plea. The first appearance your bond is set if it was not set at the police station where they can give you a $1000 I-Bond (personal recognizance) or D-Bond (you must pay 10% to get out) and the prosecutor states the charges against you. If you have a history, then the police won't likely set bail and they will take you before a judge. The next court date you enter your plea, and your attorney is given the arrest report. 99% of misdemeanors are settled on first hearing with a plea bargain, after a public defender talks to you for 1-5 minutes and then discusses the case with the prosecutor and you are instantly sentenced after the judge is given verbal report by prosecutor about what they would be able to prove if you went to trial, you state you are pleading guilty and waive your right to trial. If you choose to plead innocent and go to trial, then a trial date is set. In felonies there is an arraignment where you are told the charges or waive reading of it and enter a plea. Then there is a bond hearing which may or may not occur at the same time. Then there are hearings to obtain discovery (evidence that the State has against you and evidence you will use at trial including summary of witness interviews). Then there are pretrial motions to block evidence (motions in limine or motions to suppress evidence) and other pretrial issues (if you need a mental health exam to plead insane, and many other issues), then a trial. The pretrial hearings are very short in general and annoying at the way things are dragged out due to laziness of attorneys or overworked defense attorneys without enough time for you or because the investigatio is going slowly because investigators for public defenders are overworked and don't get to your issues like interviewing witnesses quickly. Defendants are constantly frustrated at not getting much information from their public defenders and because they don't get enough time to talk to the public defenders and tell them their concerns and how to find witnesses and details of what happened. The officers are uneducated thugs. They are pretty violent at CCDOC and they have a history of hiding baseball bats and other objects to use to beat the crap out of you. Most guards (they get pissed off if you call them guards and not officers) have no more than a high school education and training for a few months at the Sheriff's accademy. They don't know how to recognize illness and say you are faking symptoms, have anxiety, or are dope sick. Don't expect any help from them. The deputies in courtroom services are just pushing around the meat. They expect you to follow orders and they will answer simple questions about what's going on some of the time. There are very long waits in holding cells, inadequate water - so most inmates are chronically dehydrated, and nothing more than a rotten boloney sandwhich and KookAid type artificial drink. The holding cells may be very cold in winter. Drink as much as you can before court appearances. Tell the judge if you are sick even if your attorney does not and the judge may order you to be seen by a doctor.
Edward: It started to be just a Normal court appearance but due to my disrespect for the court room and to the Judge it turned into the worst day of my life.
isaac: not good i got time
Lucky: Fast! You better pay attention or you can miss your freedom.
Laydie: my court appearance was as swift and quick, and well organized as could be the public defender was dutifully presentable and very understandable the judge was well educated and prompt and consistent as well as understandable.
Kathy: Not very good. The judge was very mean and would not listen. Had a public defender.
Lisa: My court appearance was very quick and i couldnt understand what the judge was saying
Apache: to fast nothing done
Janet: WELL THAT ALL DEPENDS ON IF YOU ARE IN CUSTODY OR NOT.THERES A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE. IF YOU ARE FIGHTING A CASE OUTSIDE OF JAIL AND LETS SAY YOUR OUT ON BOND YOU HAVE ALOT MORE OPTIONS,IF YOUR LOCKED UP AND THE OFFICERS TAKE YOU TO COURT YOU HAVE TO FACE THE JUDGE LISTEN AND LEAVE THE C.OS SOMETIMES DONT EVEN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO HEAR WHAT WAS BEING SAID THEY ARE ALREADY PULLING YOU BACK TO YOUR HOLDING CELL AND IF YOU ASK THEM WHAT DID HE SAY THRE RESPONSE IS USUALLY SOMETHING LIKE"YOU SHOULD OF BEEN PAYING ATTENTION"AND THEN THE DOOR SLAMS BEHIND YOU.THATS EVEN IF THEY WILL TALK TO YOU.
Ron: mind bogeling
Ryan: Long. I was on parole and trying to let time run out so I had alot of continuances.
Laetia: The ex had me sign a mediation agreement that would trade her (dropping charges) against me in exchange for sole possession of my the home I owned with her.
Dennis: Brief, to say the least. It was a prearranged plea.
Laura: I was given a court date in room Circuit Court of Cook County District 5, Bridgeview Room 207 Judge Kerry Kennedy. It was drawn out over a few months. I was mostly starry-eyed with all the legal words. Very over my head...
Fernando: fast talking attorney (states),lot activity,judge wont let me speak,i didnt have a lawyer for the bond trial,or the probable hearing trial,cant plead my case,lot of shuffling of documents on the judge podium,lots of other people behind me waiting on their turn,judge and states attorney using a lot of terminology i cant understand
Gail: Stupifying.You would literally go to a court date and be sent right back to lockup until that allocated time when the state had to decide to pursue prosecution or drop the case.It was sad.It was unfair.I was unable to share my side of the story.It was biased.It was shameful.I always ended up leaving with a bond higher than the last.
George: I went to court maybe 5 times.Each time they continued it.On the third time the judge was not there so it was continued again.The fourth time the police that had arrested me did not appear.Finally the fifth time the police the arresting police and the judge was in court and they sentenced me to 1 year.
Rich: COURT WENT REALLY FAST, I PLEAD NO CONTEST WHICH MEANS YOU PLEAD NEITHER GULITY NOR NOT GULITY. I STOOD BEFORE THE JUDGE, THE PROSECUTOR READ THE CHARGES. THEY ASKED HOW I PLEAD & I RESPONDED 'NO CONTEST'.THE JUDGE SAID THE NUMBER OF YEARS AND HOW THEY WERE TO BE SERVED.
Mark: Court has a very bitter atmosphere. the officers in the court room and in the back where the holding cells where very disrespectful. at times when i was in custody and they bring the inmates out into the court room they tell you that you cant turn your head and look behind you. so as you look forward all you can do is hear your family crying behind you.
John: court was like a living hell just because of the waiting game that they put you through the long continuous before u go n after u see the chirf judge in all dat also they bring stuff up in your background that has nothing to do with the charge at hand
Juan: transported in a truck hancuffed with 50 or so prisoners...so much over crowding...somany people ther for gram or under amount s of drugs...dont remember meeting any violent criminals but people talked of violent crimes or firearms possessions...in chicago they lock you up for selling loose cigarrettes...the tax make s apsck of new ports 13.00 so..loose cigs are sold everywhere in the poor communities
Erik: IN COOK COUNTY IN WAS EXSTENSIVLEY OVERCROWDED, T WAS LIKE BEING CATTLE MOVED FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT WITHOUT ANY REAL REGARD FOR US AS PEOPLE. IN KANE COUNTY IT WAS A LOT MORE ORGANIZED, AND VERY THROUGH, ALSO SIMPLE, AND NOT AT ALL A HASSLE OR HARD TO DEAL WITH
Scott: Court was the most psychologically challenging experience ever endured. They wake you up at 4:30am to take you from on holding cell to another. Court does not start until 9-10am but because of the mass amounts of people and various court house locations going back and for to court to dreadful, and all this get you is another continuence.
Jason: i was always the last person to go to court. I think the reason was because i was iniatially going to challenge the courts juridistion on the grounds of common law. Thee public defendeer refused to represent me and from that point on the judge was very hostile. upon turning myself into court he revoke my bond giving me a 20k cast bond on a petty mes. I had witnessed this same judge reenstate bonds for the same reason earlier that day except in my case. then refuse to give any consessions for my lack of negative history
Shawn: the court was all about a conviction rate and did not care to take me to trial was threatened that i would get a heavier sentence if i didnt take the plea deal i was put in a situation where ther ewas no alternative but to take the plea deal
Dominic: Court was an all day affair when it came to transporting me and other inmates to court. We were awakened at 4:30 in the morning and taken to a bullpen holding cell in the basement of whatever jail division we were being held in. Then we were transported to anoher bullpen in another part of the jail. After a couple hours of waiting, we were then transported to another holding bullpen, and from there, each inmate was shackled and led to another bullpen that served as a holding cell right outside the courtroom the inmate was to appear in. Actual court time was brief, lasting only ten minutes. This occurred almost every court appearance I made during my 35month stay at Cook County jail.
James: going to court took 4 hours, moving from bull pen to bull pen, getting separated to head out to diffrent parts of the city. then when you got to the assign court house it was another 2 hours before you was called up to court where you sat u in another holding cell. the you when before the judge which may have taken 4-5 minutes then you went through the process to go back to the county
Carl: the judge asked if i could pay my fines or if i could pay for community service i was then told i would have to do 60 days for driving without a license and i wouldn't have to pay fines i said ok and was sentenced to 60 days in jail
Josh: You have your own sell at the local police station at first were they ask you questionts to incriminate yourself. Then in the morning they round everyone up to go to 26th and california. They stop at other police stations to were the paddy wagon is full and then take you to 26th. Very tense
Jose: During court, the police didn't show up and there was no lab work, so I was granted a nollie pros and released that day. I remember being very relieved, but also very angry that I hired a lawyer and basically threw my money away since there was no evidence to prove my guilt. The charge was also very sketchy, but I was angry I had to sit in jail for a month for nothing.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Laura: DUI, Disobeying a traffic device, Failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident, Alcohol Consumption by a minor.
Fernando: robbery with a deadly weapon,simple battery is what i was convicted of
Gail: Aggravated kidnapping,criminal damage to property and residential burglary.Aggravated kidnapping and criminal damage.
George: Battery,resisting arrest and aggravated assult.
Rich: I HAD A STRONG ARM ROBBERY & A RETAIL THEFT. I WAS ON PROBATION FOR THE ROBBERY & CAUGHT A RETAIL THEFT. I WAS SENTENCED TO 5YRS,3YRS FOR THE ROBBERY 2YRS. FOR THE RETAIL THEFT. THE JUDGE RAN THEM CONCURRENT.
Mark: i was charged 7 different times with driving while license suspended and possession of a controlled substance 2 times.
John: agg. battery n delivery of controlled substance
Juan: felony possesion of paraphnelia...the charge was thrown out no probable cause was found for my search/...but like i said i was theere long enough to lose my job , my place and my possessions...
Erik: DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN A PUBLIC PLACE
Scott: Unlawful Restraint. This is also what I ended being convicted of.
Jason: my original charges was driving while suspended. i eventually pled guilty to the same.
Shawn: residential burglary,burglary i had to plea down
Dominic: My original charges were three counts of armed robbery. I ended up being convicted of two counts of armed robbery and one count of aggravated robbery.
James: driving while suspended and was eventually charge with driving while suspended
Carl: driving on a suspended license
Josh: Commercial Burglary, Convicted of Commercial Burglary
Jose: My charges were possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphanelia.

Read about sentencing in the Cook County Jail