Pinellas County Jail

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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Toby, J. Friday, Jeremy, Keith, Lisa and Jenny

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Toby: i spent 4 1/2 mos. in jail before i was finally sentenced.
J. Friday: Pre-sentencing is mostly communicating with your lawyer as much as possible so you know as much as you can before you go to court.
Jeremy: Not bad. Was placed in Central for 2 weeks until my court date.
Keith: I was wrongly arrested for burglary and simple battery which I didn't commit, stayed in jail for 25 days for no reason. The Clearwater Police didn't read me my rights and didn't have a deaf interputer because I'm deaf. The State Attorney had to let me go because not enough proof or information, and dropped charges against me. So I need to sue that Clearwater Police.
Lisa: I had a public defender and they don't help the inmates with their sentencing. If one wants to have a fair trial then they need to hire their own private attorney. If there are no funds for one then the inamate most likely does jail or prison time.
Jenny: It seemed like it took a long time. First you are booked in, then sent to your housing. You sit there until you are called for court. You go several times before you are sentenced. First is the arraignment, then your case management, then your sentencing I believe.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Toby: no
J. Friday: No, the only time the police came by my house was to arrest me for a VOP warrant.
Jeremy: Only to arrest me for a VOP.
Keith: No.
Lisa: No.
Jenny: No, I was picked up by police for solicitation, then they found out I was wanted in Gainesville for violation of probation.

JM: What as court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Toby: the judge talked while my public defender explained everything to me. it was all very fast and i felt like i was being pushed along something i didn't completely understand.
J. Friday: My final court apperance,when I recieved my jail sentence, was nerve wracking to say the least. The state was looking for a year and a day in prison, and I was hoping for 11 months in county.
Jeremy: Nervous, but then happy afterwords. Recieved time served and was released.
Keith: Lousy.
Lisa: I was in jail so I went to court in jail garb and was treated like a number, not a person.
Jenny: It was ok. But you were only transported to where they release people. Then we walked through a series of hallways, then a huge holding cell. You wanted there till you were called over the intercom, and told where to walk to, and what elevator to get on and the floor you needed to go to. Then you sat in another holding cell till you went in front of the judge.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Jenny: I cannot remember the actual charges in Pinellas, but I was also being held for Gainesville, Fl.