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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Jennifer, Robert, Kathleen, Holly, Damon and Wade

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Jennifer: I had a warrent and was servied. When I got arrested I went to the percent and got my finger prints, dna and history done. I then went to the commissoners office which they review the charges and decide to give a bail or not. I then went back into the holding cell. After I was transfered to the county jail I got processed. I had to get a tb shot and medical was done.
Robert: I sat in the bull pin. I also got my picture taken. used the phone and saw the nurse. i got a tb shot and made phone calls to set up my bail. they made you watch a movie about the processes of the jail and everything you had to do in the jail.
Kathleen: During the pre sentencing process I pretty much got a summons . I didn't get a warrant for my arrest I'm not to sure of why I'm guessing because the charge wasn't so severe or a felony . I got the summons sometime in January but I didn't have court until May.
Holly: I got arrested on the date of my encounter went straight to baltimore county bookings,then let out on my own recon.then scheduled a court date. Then I had to obtain a public defender then give her all the details and. Paperwork then went to court and was then sentanced at the court date.
Damon: I spent my entire period of incarnation in pre- sentence phases of my case. this was the most emotionally draining parts of being in custody; waking up every day not knowing when I would be released or if I ever would be released. Everyday I wished I would be sentenced soon .
Wade: I faced no pre-sentencing process as I had been given a sentence of probation before judgment for the offense of DUI my first time in court, and during my second appearance in court for VOP the charges were dropped after the wise advisement of my lawyer. Tho closest to sentencing I faced was the decision of the judge in my original DUI trial to give me 18 full months of the Interlock program as opposed to allowing me credit for the two months prior it was installed in my car.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Jennifer: I knew I had a warrent so I had my husband call and tell them where I was and when they came to pick me up they read me my rights and charges. They were actually very nice to me about the warrents because I called other times they werent very nice.
Robert: I never got questioned they just came to my house and picked me up. they read me my rights and the charges. I couldnt explain myself or anything before I got arrested. So i had to get bailed out and wait until court before I could prove me having no parts in the charges against me.
Kathleen: No the police didn't stop by for questioning. I wasn't never issued a warrant for the case . I received papers in the mail rather the summons stating that I had been charged with a failure to comply violation of a peace order I didn't get arrested until the day I had court.
Holly: The police didn't come to my house I was stealing at my job, for a while they finally caught me and before the end of my shift the loss prevention officer called me Into his office and asked me questions and because the sum of money stolen was 1,000 and some change he had to call the police and I was arrested on the spot.
Damon: no. I was only 16 years old. I was leaving my house going to school one day and the warrant apprehension task force ambushed me and threw me to the ground. I was handcuffed , told I had a warrent , and they called for a paddy wagon to take me to jail.
Wade: During the Violation of my probation I was given no notice of my wanted status by the state. Police came to my house early in the morning a week before I turned myself in to attempt to arrest me. It happened to be that I was at a friends house the night prior and was not home, the police harassed my sister asking about my whereabouts which she realistically had no clue of. Eventually the left my home and gave me a number to call. Upon learning of this incident I called the officer who left the card and agreed to turn myself in on the promise that this would be a very quick procedure. Little did I know I would be almost held without bail due to my VOP charges.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Jennifer: You get transfered to the court house at 8 in the morning and you are held in a holding cell until your case is called. they then hand cuff your hands and escort you to the court room. I was very scared and court wasnt to good. the state doesnt like me so they always try and give me jail time. They dont even know me. it's this one lady that handles all my cases.
Robert: I had to set in the court room and wait for my name to be called. I hired a lawyer to help me with my charges. i then went up infront of the judge. they read my charges and what the state wanted to do. I proved myself innocent. So I was set free.
Kathleen: Court was pretty quick. At other times when I usually went to court I would have to wait hours for my case to get called but I was in the court room for no more then thirty minutes. I didn't even get a chance to explain the judge didn't want to hear anything I had to say which really made me mad its like he believed everything the plantiff had to say . I didn't talk much and I got sentenced and hauled off immediately after.
Holly: Court was crazy I was so nervous this was my first offense,knowing your fate was in someone elses hands was crazy as ever.I arrived to court early so I was there for awhile and as soon as I got there the states attorney wanted jail time so of course that's what the judge sentenced me it was so nerve wrecking,cause you don't know your fate...........................
Damon: my times in court were mostly short with alot less actual talking by my lawyer than I anticipated. it always seemed as if my lawyer , my states attorney , and the judge had a predetermined plan I was just finding out about. the whole ordeal was very confusing and frustrating.
Wade: Court was a very stressful time. I will recount the time I went for VOP because that had more serious repercussions and had caused me to spend the day in jail. My Judge had moved from Towson to Essex so I was required to go to Essex to attend my hearing. I came with my mother and my lawyer and wore the best suit I could. After an hour or two of waiting my case was called up. My amazing lawyer proved the faults of the reason for my being considered in Violation of Probation, and the judge dropped the Violation charges, remanding me to finish the prior probation. Court was terrifying, but my faith in my lawyer and the errors in charging me for VOP gave me confidence that a positive outcome would come.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Jennifer: I was charged with 2nd degree assualt on a minor and child abuse. I got convicted of 2nd degree assault. My sentence was 2 years probation and 18 months suspended.
Robert: 2nd degree assualt on my babies mother. The charges were dismissed.
Kathleen: Failure to comply peace order 6 counts
Holly: Theft Scheme over 1k less than 10K
Damon: my original charges were armed robbery , handgun possession , assault , handgun possession by a minor , and theft. I ended up taking a plea deal where I pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Wade: I was originally charged with DUI, DWI, and many other traffic infractions. After being arrested for those charges I was held briefly before being released to my mother. Eventually, an error in my Interlock devce, which is designed to keep me from drinking and driving caused a violation of my probation. The judge called for a no bail arrest warrant. Thankfully the incident in question occured before my probation started and I was released after serving about a day in lock-up. Eventually I was given a probation before judgement on the DUI and an acquittle of the VOP charges.

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