Re: First Offense Shoplifting in Michigan, Age 17
Michigan tends to be a bit more generous with court appointed counsel, although practices can vary by county. Michigan does assess attorney fees for court appointed lawyers against a defendant who is convicted or enters a guilty plea, but the fees are usually significantly less than the cost of private counsel.
Re: First Offense Shoplifting in Michigan, Age 17
once again, thank you for your help! hubby and i discussed this and have decided that it is better for her to face the music, learn her lesson and move on. i don't make excuses for them when they do wrong, and though i know the reasons behind it, she will still have to take responsibility for it, illness or not, because thats the honorable thing to do. i am sure the judge gets very weary of all the excuses. it might be refreshing to hear a defendant stand up and say, i did it, i repent, i am sorry, i am here to pay/do any restitution needed.
when my first son was 5 he put dirt in a gas tank of a nieghbor, along with a 4 yr old accomplice. i didn't throw a fit, but took him to PD, hand him write a statement and sign it, and apoligize to the people.
it made an impact on him and he never did it again.
i know it is a scary thing to face the law when we have done wrong, but it is the choice we made. as a long time member of a 12 step group, i can tell you from my own experience and those i have counseled, that being accountable, though scray and difficult at times, can really set you free. you own up to it, stop running, and stand up to it. the buck stops there.
i have had to recount how i ended up in a 12 step group, and recovery, over the years, to employers and often rooms of people i addressed, and it does make a difference. you can "begin again".
thank you for all your help, i am most grateful, and i do wish you all well. most of all, i wish you all the core of integrity you may need to help you recover and find your way through the often stressful learning processes life can bring you. it will be a burden off of you.