Presentencing

JM: Tell us about the presentencing process:
Karen*: I was actually scheduled for an arraignment hearing, and spoke with the public defender for about 5 minutes before the judge came into the courtroom. I requested an extension on the hearing in order to obtain outside legal counsel. The judge denied that and sentenced me to 60 days to Ada County Jail. I asked the judge for work release instead of complete incarceration due to the fact that I was employed fulltime at HP [Hewlett Packard], but the judge also denied that stating “You don’t care anything about your job.”

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning?
Karen: No. This was a probation violation and a warrant issued by my probation officer where I had to turn myself in and bail myself out, as well as having my picture on the internet under current arrests.

JM: What was your court appearance like?
Karen: I was professionally dressed in gray slacks and a button front dress shirt, with my hair nicely groomed.

JM: How long was the court appearance?
Karen:The court appearance lasted only approximately 30 minutes.

* - Names have been changed

 | Read on about the Sentencing Process