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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Hugh, Cameron, Sarah, Roy and Janicki

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Hugh: I was in jail for second degree murder. I got in a fight in December. 9 days later the person died of a closed head injury, a subdural hematoma.
Cameron: I asked for a court-appointed lawyer. I did not see him until I was waiting in the holding cell before court. Going to court is itself a drudgery when you are in jail. The night shift gets you up at two in the morning to come downstairs and wait. That is when we were given our nutritious breakfast which consisted of a small package of cereal that was also the bowl to eat it. A small container of milk, and a "sweet" roll. There was not much sweet about it. After about six hours of being in a cell without enough seats we were lined up and handcuffed onto a chain to be marched through the tunnels to our given courtroom. Another holding cell without enough seats. After a few hours the lawyer called to me through a hole in the wall. I was expected to discuss my case in the presence of many other prisoners who could not speak at a low volume. There was an actual dim in the cell, possibly enough decibels to be harmful. So the lawyer and I had to yell to be heard. He urged me to take the deal for 8 years. I told him I wanted a trial. He spoke with the prosecutor, who offered 6 years. No dice. Came back with 4 years. Hell no. Two years? We made the deal. The court appointed lawyer would have had me serve an extra 6 years, and he would have done so happily.
Sarah: I was transferred from city Jail in a large truck handcuffed to others. The cuffs are taken off once you get to the jail. You go through a series of cells in processing. You start in a holding cell where you are wearing your own clothes, you can make a collect call from this cell or a 1 minute call to a cell phone. Then they take you in 2s or 3s into a small room, where you remove your clothes, have to bend over naked and cough, deputy is watching. You put your clothes in something like a hanging carry on bag and change into green jail uniform top and pants, you search through a big box for rubber sandles your size as shoes. Then you go into another holding cell and wait with the others. When everone is in a jail uniform they march you single file over to the male processing area to finger print you, take your picture, and they ask you medical questions and give you a TB shot. Beware this is all done in the open, there are many open cell with a number of males in them. Be prepared for a number of cat calls. Any male could easly walk out of a cell and do harm. They deputies are there but they are a lot less then the prisoners and all the cells are open. They tell you not to talk to the male inmates. When all are done they march you back to the female processing area and put you in a cell waiting to go in the elevator to an upper floor. They take you out of the elevator to a closet full of mats (this is your bed so get a good one if you can, blue is better) and they issue one small towel. Then they pile you all into an elevator and take you to the 5th floor and put you in the processing rock. This is where everybody goes initially. You can be here a day to a week. You are suppose to be two to a cell but it is not unusually to have 3 or more in a cell cause everyone goes here. they observe you and then decide your final destination and then call you out and take you there. So the people you get to know here may not be the people you eventually live with. After trial I was sent back to jail to wait sentence. On your sentencing day, they call you out and take you though a series of holding cells on you floor and the main floor. Then a deputy comes and takes you to the specified judges courtroom. You are handcuffed at this point. You may be the only female and you are handcuffed to everyone going to that judges courtroom even the males. You walk through a series of underground tunnels with large chucks of paint falling from the ceilings and walls across the street to the court house. Then you go up an elevator to the floor and put in a grungy holding cell behind the court room. You will be here all day while court is open. The only time you get out is when your case is called. If your lawyer needs to talk to you it is through a small hole in the door that is usually covered. After court is done for the day they re-handcuff you and take you back through the same tunnels and cells until you get back to your original cell. It is an all day process. I stayed at the jail the entire time of my sentence. Others are only there for a week or a month to the prison transport comes to take them away whether state or federal.
Roy: the pre sentencing process happened in taylor and then i rode in a wayne county van to wayne county jail,the van gaurds should be more precautious when checking the inmates at taylor and the van cops.....i had a razor blade in my sock,not to harm anyone,but it was my first time in a county jail and it was for my own protection,i ended up giving it to a younger kid ont he ride there
: My pre-sentencing interview was a joke. They ask questions about your residence, any drug abuse history, family. They also ask about prior charges, if you're on probation or parole and the interviewer makes you feel like a terrible criminal no matter what your history. They also ask about your education and any military history. Once the interview is over, they check up on everything you told them and if anything isn't 100% accurate you are labeled a liar. They don't do a good job at researching the information.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Hugh: I was at work when I was arrested. They had watched me for half a day before they arrested me. The person who arrested me was a homicide detective. They weren't rough with me or anything. I was charged at that time.
Cameron: My case in Wayne Co. was Home Invasion and Car Theft (from the house I burgled). I was arrested in Oakland County for attempted Armed Robbery. I was driving the stolen car at the time. I worked all of my life, but became hooked on heroin. What an evil taskmaster is heroin. I had smoked crack. When I ran out I wanted more, but there were no physical complications. Hell, when I finish a chocolate malt I sometimes want more. That does not mean I am addicted. When I did not have my heroin my bones ached. Laugh if you will, but that just means your bones have never ached. So I tried to rob someone for money. Well, I certainly did not intend to hurt anyone. And I did not want someone who might give a fight (the gun was just a bluff). When the lady screamed I ran like a rabbit. I was arrested a mile away with the stolen car.
Sarah: I was driving my car and had accident. Was arrested at car accident and handcuffed put in the police car with no leg room and taken to city jail. I was in city jail for about three days before being transferred to Wayne County Jail in a big truck while being handcuffed to others.
Roy: i was arrested for punching out a laundrymat window in an apartment complex i was living in at the time named pine ridge...now known as the ponds in taylor michigan.the cops came to my house and i ran from them,they chased me for hours and i actually got away,but i was drunk and came out of hiding and hopped a fence around a dumpster right in front of them,when i could have walked right by,but they look over and some idiot is climbing the fence to the burger king dumpster,worst mistake ever
: I was caught stealing at Kohl's in Taylor. I had never even been to Taylor before but I had a huge problem shop lifting. This was my 4th retail fraud so it was a habitual, a felony. Loss prevention popped me, they Taylor police were called, I stayed in Taylor for 3 days before I had my arraignment and then brought to county. I was detoxing from stimulants, opiates and benzos so I was asleep the entire time.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Hugh: I was arraigned the day after I was arrested, and taken to Wayne county jail. Went back 10 days later for preliminary. I was bound over on second degree murder.
Cameron: Court was a regimented system that was run by all the people who have gone to law school. It is geared entirely for those in the club. It rewards those who have paid their dues (i.e. gone to law school). I can see why there is such a huge backlog; they do not work very hard. They seem to think that their degree should sustain them for the rest of their lives without any further effort on their part. This is the system in every courthouse in America. If you pay a lawyer big money you will get respect. If not, you are just another piece of detritus to be removed from the streets.
Sarah: Judge predetermined guilt. Treated very harsh because I did not cooperate and take a plea. Judge biased to prosecution. Judge has authority to appoint court appointed attorney. so they are beholden to the judge for more assignments. Attorney incompetent. Have to sit in a holding cell for a long time. Usually without food water. You are lucky if you have TP. Horrible experience.
Roy: court was very easy going for me,i have a honest face and people tend to like me because of my quiet and polite demeanor,the probation officer was a sweet lady who was truly concerned about my well being and rehabilitation as a young adult ,she couldnt have done her job better ,the judge didnt like me obviously judges judge
: I was bonded over to Frank Murphy because it was a felony. I went to court at least 5 times due to small issues like losing my paper work, the judge wasn't there. I went on a few "dry runs" which means I didn't even have court. I was finally bonded over to Mental Health court with Judge Kenny. He is an excellent judge and when I was standing in front of him during my pre-sentencing and sentencing, he made me feel extremely confident and comfortable. The whole process of going to court is a nightmare. You are woken up at 4:30 and herded into a bull pen with 15 other girls only to sit and wait. Then you are moved down stairs to sit in 3 more bull pens, finger printed, searched and when your court officers arrive, you are either cuffed to another female or alone behind your back. Then you walk thru these disgusting tunnels underneath the jail to the basement at Frank Murphy. Then you are locked in another bull pen only to wait 4-5 hours until you have your 10 minutes with your judge. Your attorney will come in and talk to you thru a small window. Public defenders are useless because you generally accept the plea deal. I was offered 18 months probation, 4 months in rehab and a tether. I needed and wanted rehab because I had issues with prescription drugs as well as stealing.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Hugh: Original charge was open murder, because they didn't have all the facts. They weren't sure if it was manslaughter. I plead guilty to second degree murder.
Cameron: My original charges were Home Invasion and Car Theft (there is another name for it). I pled guilty to both charges.
Sarah: Misdemaanor stalking, fleeing eluding police, then aggrevated stalking. Convicted of last two.
Roy: my original charges were felonious assault which i was falsely accused of and the defendant never showed up for court,so i was released on bail after 2 weeks in wayne county
: Retail fraud, 1st degree felony. Once I complete probation my felony will be removed.

Read about sentencing in the Wayne County Jail