JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process: Jen: the pre-sentencing seeming to take forever, you
sit in the county for at least 3 to 7 days
before this even happens, then you are schacked
and taken to the court house across town for
however long that they decide that they want you
to sit in a lttle pink bathroom locked in
hancuffs until yo see a judge. Karen: I was held in jail so there was no pre sentencing
process for myself. Court was done through the
television process. I am sure my mom went to court
to see what happened to me and had to contact my
public defender to find out what was happening which
I know was hard on her and not fair to her. Will: I turned myself in to a local police department.
It was pre-arranged by my lawyer.
JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested. Jen: no Karen: The Police stopped me while walking down the street
after I had purchased the drugs. I was taken into
custody and searched and they found the drugs. I
was walking in a well known drug area and they
happen to be watching the house that I bought the
drugs from. Will: A detective came to my hospital room 2 days
after I got out of surgery. I was pretty
incoherrent at the time, but I did manage to
tell him I wanted my lawyer present. He was very
nice and agreed to come back when I was more
aware.
JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall. Jen: a vey scary and confusing process, it seems like
they found more charges then was actually there
at the time, and since I had never been in
trouble, it was like they were making an example
out of my case. Karen: I was incarcerated so I had television court. They
took me into a small room where there was a monitor
and all I saw was the judge on the screen. My mom
was in the court room but I could not see her, but
she could see and hear me on the television in the
court room. Will: Court was a real treat because it was the only
time I was able to either get out of my bed that
I was handcuffed to for 40 days or my cell with
I was in 24hr lockdown. So I actually looked
forward to going to court, where I could
actually talk to other people and not be
isolated.
JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of? Karen: Original charges was possession of heroin. Was
charged with possession and complicity to theft and
possession of criminal tools. Will: My original charge where aggrevated roberry-F1
and a F2 and F3 all having to do with the
robbery. I was convicted of roberry F2-