you look just like my son and his story is similar. He was on a misdemeanor probation and after the 9/11 went to a pawnshop to see if he could buy a gun. They did a background check on him and off to jail he went. He has been in jail since 9/21 without formal charges and without bail. He is so frustrated and upset - he yells at me to do something and I do - I have called every organization under the Sun to help him and they all say the same thing - it is the judge - so I called the ACLU and they said if I complaion too much the judge will retaliate - now the dist attory has offered him a plea bargain - to a felony - which if he takes, the judge, could sentence him to 3 years - if he doesn't, he has to wait until february to get out...it is all because of the DA and the judge - I even went in front of the Judge and said he could stay with me, but to no avail. This is the most depressing display of justice I have ever seen. It makes me want to throw up - my son is being made out to look like a maddening criminal - I know EXACTLY how you feel and what you have gone through. My son's next court date is 12/13/01 and he just says "I am not getting out mom - i just know it - now I know how black people feel" - my son, Joshua, has been to court 9 (yes 9) times - there is only one judge in our fair (ha) small town - and you know all these court appearances are going to cost, too - I have called the newspaper, the ACLU, the justice department - my son is so MAD and always screaming at me (i am his only outlet) - and what they brought him in for is as stupid and assinine as what they did to you. What? These guys can't the big guys who are breaking laws left and right? They go for kids who made a bad judgement call? They can't help? My son needs help or re-direction, but not being held in jail without bond or formal charges - if I ever get him out, I will send him to Canada - what to do, what to do? Thanks for letting me vent David. Love, Josh's mom - ellie

Hi Ellie,
Just thought I would ask about how your son's court date went? Hopefully they have eased up on him. It's a sad fact that they usually come down with what they are seeking (punishment wise) over time. I know what it is like to sit on the inside of a cell waiting to find out what your future holds.
My recommendation to your son is to "ride it out" if he can get time served and keep a felony off his record. This is much easier said than done. The D.A. knows the hollidays are here and will try and leverage with that.. Your son wants very much to come home and it may seem taking a felony & probation? is the solution... But, chances are it will create worse problems in the future. It did for me..
Well.. Hopefully they dropped the foolishness. Please keep us informed and let us know if there if there is anyting we can do.

Best Wishes,
David

:confused:

my son is out, a convicted felon, hard core probation, then violated his probation. It seems like these folks set you up to fail - I told them over and over, put him in rehab, don't keep punishing him. Please remember, I have two sons in jail because of one stupid, stupid man, still out there. My son is still out but has to go in front of probation - we are not looking at good news. This, my dear, is his own fault this time. He keeps making his life harder and harder on himself - and it seems like he is falling into traps. Me, as I am 50 years old, see the traps and while they are ridiculous, they are still traps - if I could just get my kids out of the system and out of these peoples vices - but all we can do now is pray and get the hell out of this state. I have no clue what will happen next - just hope that my background and my stability will help him, but it will not because I do not have $10 or $20 grand to get a good lawyer - I honestly do not know what will happen next. My other son, who introduced this lovely fellow to our family - is going to boot camp in 3 days. If only I could sit own in ront of a judge and talk to him without being in front of 50 people, a probation officer (who claims she has heard it all before) a bondsmen (who has actually sent a bounty hunter to my house) and COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LISTEN WHY THIS IS ALL HAPPENING? I don't know, just don't know - just gicing up at this point and letting my kids know they have a roof over their head as long as I am alive = but jeez - I can see why people keep going back - it's a set up - they can't possibly meet all the demands put on them in a short period of time - and we have to pay for UA's, probation visits, counseling, anger management, find a job in 2 weeks and he can't drive - and the town is 17 miles away - and he hitchikes - and wants to go to school and pay his fines - but no - ellie

Ellie I just want to say that I feel your frustration and I know how you feel.
Its a Helpless, horrible feeling when you cant help your child No matter How hard you want to or you try!