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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Elise, Jack, Justin and Sean

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Elise: You sat in your housing till you were called for the process of going to court.
Jack: After booking, we were dressed out and sent to a holding block. Everyone goes to this block for the first 14 days they are there. You are housed in this block until you go to video court within 24 hours. At video court, you are told how much time you have or when your next court date is.
Justin: There was really no pre sentence I was just sentenced to 90 days for Driving while revoked By Judge chandler. It was a vioplation of probation. I was taken straight to jail from the tusc co courthouse. I also was sentenenced to 10 weekends. This was the last time i was locked up. there was MANY times before this
Sean: during the presentencing i was allowed to stay out and work. but i had to make my own bail first.. i was originally arrested after being taken to the police station for questioning..this happened two or three days after altercation originally happened..i didntfeel theyre was enough evidence for an arrest

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Elise: Probably, but I had left the state without permission, so they put out a warrant for my arrest.
Jack: Some one hit my car and the police were called because it was a multiple car accident. The police officer ran my name for some reason and it turned out that I had warrant for an outstanding warrant from seven months before for a traffic ticket. He arrested me right then and took me to jail.
Justin: No i rec several traffic tickets at differant times. I was not arrested until i went before the judge when my court day came. i was on probation for tickets rec at an earlier date which i violated by receiving new tickets for DWR Driving while license revoked. all in district court
Sean: yes..they stopped by my house early one morning two or three days after the incident originally happened..they spent time looking around the house, and then asking me many questions...after i was questioned at home, i was then taken to the local police station..after 2 hours of questioning there, i was arrested

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Elise: Court for the charges for what I did there were quick and easy.
Jack: Because of the nature of my crime, I only went to video court. You are required by law to go to court within 24 hours of being arrested in Alabama and my name was called along with about 20 other people. We were led down a long hallway into a room with a videoconferencing monitor and the judge was on the screen. She read my charge and told me that I had to serve 60 days to cover the fines.
Justin: Court was a joke! Unless you have money and a high priced laywer u dont stand a chance, They hand out crazy fines that no one can afford, then give out suspended sentences so that the next time you get a ticket you go straight to jail. Judge Chandlet is a KNOWN alcoholic who is a tyrant in the court room.
Sean: In court i felt my lawyer done a descent jo, and i also liked my judge...it did feel like the detectives information was very one sided though....i honestly felt helpless...they seemed to be very focused on finding what i could have done wrong, and not focused on the other parties

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Elise: First I was caught trespassing, then I was charged with distruction of county property. I kicked the police windshield and cracked it. Then there was the trespassing.
Jack: My original charges were Driving Without Insurance and Failure to Properly Display Tags. I was convicted of both.
Justin: Driving While license Revoked or suspended
Sean: original charge was robbery 3 i was convicted of robbery 2

Read about sentencing in the Tuscaloosa County Jail