My husband's nephew who was going to school on an academic scholorship and living with us is serving a year's sentence in the county jail for one night of stupidity. He is very fortunate that he had no priors and was not sent to state prison. The angels were watching out for all because no one was hurt or seriously injured.
I also work within the legal system.
I often wonder if it is not harder on the loved one's at home than the one who is incarcerated.

It's so good to hear that you all are there for him. I am glad he has come to acknowledge his mistake.
I quit wondering about who it's harder for, everyone suffers.

Unfortunately when someone does something so bad to warrant time in prison, it does affect other people in that inmate's circle of association: his/her partner, their children, their parents and siblings, other extended family, dear friends...yes, the inmate is the one that has to serve the time physically but their loved ones serve the time emotionally, spiritually, even in some cases financially especially if the incarcerated was the main breadwinner of the family.

It's a sad situation but I don't know if there is a way out of it; that is, unless you stop loving or caring for the incarcerated one. For the majority of us on PTO, that is not an option.

i know what you are saying. my nephew is doing 25 years for murder.we were the only people in his life since his dad died. he got with wrong crowd now he is spending his life in prison. he is 16 almost 17