Another warrant

[ntagaincolorado]

Colorado
This is yet the fourth time a friend of mine has violated probation. This is her first DWAI offense and I feel that she got the hammer each time she went to court. She is a single parent supporting two children and two jobs...her first court order was two years probation...what seemed like hundreds of classes and lots of money to be paid...she failed. The second court order doubled the first...and her third court appearance she finally told the judge...hey..I am going to just be back here again because I can't meet all of the probation demands. Can you possible consider the ankle bracelet? No was the response from the judge...you get ninety days..."weekenders". I agree...this seemed like the easy way out, and she felt she was lucky she wasn't thrown in jail that very day. Well, she didn't complete that either...now she is wondering if there is any chance to request lesser jail time? Or is it too late. There is now a bench warrant issued for her arrest to do straight time...does that mean they can't add on any more jail time if she was to go turn herself in? Anyone know...let me know! Thanks!

Ok...the only thing that hasn't been said here is that she has completely neglected her responsiblity to take care of this. What I want to know is...can the judge add more time onto her current jail sentence of ninety days?

[Alchohol_Free]

Hard to render an opinion on this without knowing more details. If she was having trouble meeting the probation demands, did she try to work something out with her treatment director or just not show to classes? Did she try to work with her probation officer to structure things in a way that she could meet? Did she make arrangements for someone to watch the kids while she worked on her probation requirements.

I find it hard to believe that the judge would be so insensitive, especially since she's female and a single mom. There must be more to this story.

[CdwJava]

Okay ... how many bites at the apple should the courts be expected to give her? How many chances? Hiding behind her kids is NOT an excuse. If need be, they can be placed into the temporary custopdy of family or friends while she does her time - but to use her kids as an excuse not to fulfill legal obligations for her crime is simply wrong.

She committed a crime. She had opportunities to fulfill her obligations and chose not to do so. Now it's time to pay the piper.

- Carl

[ntagaincolorado]

Can the judge add more time onto her current sentence?

[Alchohol_Free]

I'm sure the judge could if he/she wanted. She has a failure to report to jail now and that ups the ante.

Incidently, even the jail can be worked with. When I was doing my 4 weekends of jail, I had a work emergency on Friday. I was supposed to report in Friday night. I called the jail and the Sargent let me delay reporting in until 6 a.m. Saturday morning. Since I was up all night and as a thank you, I reported in 2 hours early considering the Sargent was really sticking her neck out.

[ntagaincolorado]

This may be mundane, but do you think her contacting a lawyer to ensure her stay would only be for those ninety days? I know she is ready to render this problem GONE...I would probably be the person caring for her children, not that I don't mind, but I am not prepared to care for her kids for 6months to a year!! Could she even contact the DA to communicate with them her respective time to be served?

[Alchohol_Free]

and see if a deal can be arranged. Hard to say because the judge has given a decision.

Kudos to you for making yourself available to take care of her kids.

I know someone who's had at least 1 oustanding warrant for the last 10 years, and she hasn't been able to get a job for the last 10 years. She's still in denial and believes that her unresolved background has nothing to do with it.

We keep trying to get her to get this dealt with, do the 30 days and get i off of her record. At least your friend wants to get this behind her.

[ntagaincolorado]

Thanks for the "kudos"!! You should tell your friend that there are some people that aren't ever looking at freedom, at least each day she is there counts closer to her freedom!! And anymore, you can get "good time" for being in there, get a job in the kitchen or laundry, you get credit for being in there. Godd Luck with your friend, I hope she can get it done-no such thing as statute of limitations anymore is there? (7 years and its gone kind of thing?)