Prison Place

My daughter is incarcerated in Troy, NC.  She just got there from Raleigh, NC and had been there for almost 3 yrs.  She had the exact same charges in 4 counties, which means court cases all over the place.  In each county she had a public defender.  At this date she has been transported to Catawba County 5 different times in the past year to stand trial and each time she is sent back to Raleigh with not so much as an appearance in front of a judge.  In the 3 yrs she has been going through this, we have seen murderers, child molesters and drug dealers walk out of jail/prison while my daughter, who is accused of white collar crimes, sits and sits in prison with nothing to hold onto.  I believe if she had been able to afford a competent attorney that she would already be out on work release or probation.  We can not seem to get ONE response from the PDefender in Catawba County to see what is being done to speed up this trial.  A paid attorney would feel obligated.  It's bad enough that she is wasting her days twiddling her thumbs, but she is missing her daughters days too.  She has more than paid her dues for the misdeamenor crime she committed.  I felt like I was in a time wharp in Catawba County, it was like being in court 100 yrs ago.  SLOW, NOBODY DOING ONE THING BUT CHATTING!  There were all of 15 people in the entire courtroom and we were there till 2PM.  And we would have been sitting there till 5 if I hadn't approached the DA and asked when our case would be heard and he informed me that her case would NOT be heard on that day.  I almost flipped!  Not to mention that I had to drive more than an hour to Catawba Court House one way and I didn't even get to SEE my daughter.  It was the biggest circus show I ever saw!  Every case was continued or thrown out and each one took longer than it should have.  They ALL acted like they had never heard of any one of these cases before that day.  Nobody seemed to know what they were doing.  A personal attorney would have had a field day in that court room. 

UGGH!!!!!! P.D. what a shame people dont get more help from them they ALL have a lazy attitude. What a shame the majority of people have to have these undesireables handle their cases. More often than not the PD you meet is not even the same one that handles the case in the court room. They say everyone is entitled to legal representation what they neglect to tell you is if you have money you can get a Good Attorney-those who are from the hard working side of life get the low end of justice.

my son (38) first time in trouble---was railroaded so fast,made our heads swim.one incompitant after another...we good grief these appointed attorneys are in the same offices have lunch an breaks,,,often eyeballing the others job..you know they are all rowing buddies,,god forbide some one really work on a case AND WIN!!!!but then the hired attorneys have sky high fees...often huge money up front. familys already strapped for money...and raw emotions....which they know.....they look at you with those uncaring $$$'sign eyes......i think it would be only fair.... if these attorneys lost the case have to pay back half of the money paid to them....bet they would be more inclined to roll up there sleeves and get with the program to win....gee more innocent people not in lock up,,,,imagin that.....(a mother waits) martha

I agree that pd's are not worth their salt.    my son was up for selling meth, (guilty) and for conspiracy to murder.  NOT.  he got this pd and sat in county jail for 3 yrs.    after 1 yr, the pd talked my son into taking a plea.  ok.  not too bad.  the real concern was the murder charge.  He had nothing to do w/this.  only thing state had against him was the fact that he knew both the shooter and victim.   and he had lent the gun to shooter.  that is all they had against him.  no proof of anything else.  even the shooter said that he did it all on his own.  the pd did absolutely nothing for the next 1 1/2  ... we were next to choosing a jury for trial...  the pd comes to my son and tells him that if he goes to trial he will be found guilty and get the death penalty.   I m sorry but even people who do murder, dont always get that... and my son was only a supposed conspirator ?  hmmm - anyways... convinced my son to take another plea agreement.... now son sits in prison 25-life for something he had no part in.

we dont have funds to hire our own.  we dont even own a house..we live in an older 5th wheel.   these poor kids that get bad sentences for mistakes   -   it is a shame and we need Prison Reform.           my son is not an angel and has been in trouble before, he is 38 yrs old.  but I       know that he should not be there that long.  his kids miss him.