Re: Local Politics Question
Personally I am not in favor of the rich being excluded from punishment for crimes other pay for. However if you seek to have daughter face no consequences for her wrongdoing hire her a Defense Attorney. No one here is likely going to help your guilty daughter escape justice. That is not this sites purpose
Re: Local Politics Question
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Quoting
jim1955
...
We are financially well off and my daughter has access to her own money as well as ours when she needs things, so why she did this is a mystery that not even she can explain.
My question is one more of local politics than anything else... we live in a relatively small community and I know individuals that work in the different levels of law enforcement, including the police and the local courts.
I know a police officer and a court administrator who have indicated to me that these types of charges have been dropped before, based on who you are or who you know in the community.
Is there any legal precedent for the prosecuting attorney to drop charges, if it is communicated to him/her that my daughter will be asking for a trial by jury (at which time she would get an attorney) and will be calling the above mentioned individuals to testify that others have received special treatment because of who they were or who they knew? Basically airing the system's dirty laundry.
Why not just get her an attorney and see if they can get her into a diversion program of some sort that would essentially dismiss the charge after the probation period?
As to "Basically airing the system's dirty laundry." - Threaten to do that and you are simply creating trouble for both yourself and your daughter.
1) It's very very doubtful that a judge would allow any such testimony. Testimony is limited to the facts surrounding the case, character of the accused being tried, credibility of witnesses, etc. - not what some other child or person "of privilege" received as a charge and/or sentence in any other matter.
2) Do you really want to PO a prosecutor who may be in a position to recommend a diversion program or agree to other lesser charges and/or punishments?
Re: Local Politics Question
Thank you for the response Panther... we are not rich, I said my daughter has her own money (from working) and that we provide for her when she needs something (she is still in high school).
I do want her to face the consequences, I just don't want this to follow her around forever because of one stupid decision/mistake.
Jim
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Quoting
panther10758
Personally I am not in favor of the rich being excluded from punishment for crimes other pay for. However if you seek to have daughter face no consequences for her wrongdoing hire her a Defense Attorney. No one here is likely going to help your guilty daughter escape justice. That is not this sites purpose
Re: Local Politics Question
Hello Buzzard,
Thank you for the information regarding diversion... I will mention it to her as an option.
As far as the dirty laundry goes... how is it ever going to get cleaned up, if it doesn't get aired?
Jim
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4eyedbuzzard
Why not just get her an attorney and see if they can get her into a diversion program of some sort that would essentially dismiss the charge after the probation period?
As to "Basically airing the system's dirty laundry." - Threaten to do that and you are simply creating trouble for both yourself and your daughter.
1) It's very very doubtful that a judge would allow any such testimony. Testimony is limited to the facts surrounding the case, character of the accused being tried, credibility of witnesses, etc. - not what some other child or person "of privilege" received as a charge and/or sentence in any other matter.
2) Do you really want to PO a prosecutor who may be in a position to recommend a diversion program or agree to other lesser charges and/or punishments?
Re: Local Politics Question
Then be a good parent hold her accountable. Find her a criminal defense Attorney and as 4eyed suggest ask about Diversion
Re: Local Politics Question
Thank you Panther.
Jim
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panther10758
Then be a good parent hold her accountable. Find her a criminal defense Attorney and as 4eyed suggest ask about Diversion
Re: Local Politics Question
Quote:
Quoting
jim1955
Hello Buzzard,
Thank you for the information regarding diversion... I will mention it to her as an option.
As far as the dirty laundry goes... how is it ever going to get cleaned up, if it doesn't get aired?
Jim
Then air in a manner that wont benefit you or your daughter. Your post suggest airing for her benefit to "drop" charges.
Re: Local Politics Question
Quote:
I know a police officer and a court administrator who have indicated to me that these types of charges have been dropped before, based on who you are or who you know in the community.
Jim
Ah so it's a good-ol-boy system, Jim? A model of the corruption that encompasses the American justice system! A place where the well-known and well-to-do get by with murder, while the poor people have the door slammed in their face? Is this what you're talking about?
I'm sure this is what our founding fathers meant when they said, "with liberty and justice for ALL!"
Sorry guys, but I've fought against this corruption in my home county my entire life.
Re: Local Politics Question
Hello Panther,
You are correct, my post did suggest that... after thinking about it, I will wait until this matter is resolved and then decide about what/if to do anything about the laundry.
Thanks again,
Jim
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Quoting
panther10758
Then air in a manner that wont benefit you or your daughter. Your post suggest airing for her benefit to "drop" charges.
Re: Local Politics Question
If I misunderstood the intent of your post I am sorry but that is how I read it. Diversion is your daughter best option.
Re: Local Politics Question
Hello Eagle,
Yes, that is exactly what it is... and having never been involved in any manner with the system, was quite surprised after talking to the folks mentioned in my OP.
I am going to take the advice of Panther and have my daughter deal with this issue and then decide whether or not to pursue the airing of the laundry.
As I mentioned, we live in a relatively small community and embarrassing a couple of local officials wouldn't be that difficult to do.
Maybe a well-placed anonymous tip to the local newspaper would be enough to get someone to look into it?
Thanks for the reply,
Jim
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blueeagle
Ah so it's a good-ol-boy system, Jim? A model of the corruption that encompasses the American justice system! A place where the well-known and well-to-do get by with murder, while the poor people have the door slammed in their face? Is this what you're talking about?
I'm sure this is what our founding fathers meant when they said, "with liberty and justice for ALL!"
Sorry guys, but I've fought against this corruption in my home county my entire life.
Re: Local Politics Question
Hi Panther,
No... after reading my OP again, I can see how you read that into it.
No worries and thanks again for the advice,
Jim
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panther10758
If I misunderstood the intent of your post I am sorry but that is how I read it. Diversion is your daughter best option.
Re: Local Politics Question
Quote:
Quoting
jim1955
Hello Eagle,
Yes, that is exactly what it is... and having never been involved in any manner with the system, was quite surprised after talking to the folks mentioned in my OP.
I am going to take the advice of Panther and have my daughter deal with this issue and then decide whether or not to pursue the airing of the laundry.
As I mentioned, we live in a relatively small community and embarrassing a couple of local officials wouldn't be that difficult to do.
Maybe a well-placed anonymous tip to the local newspaper would be enough to get someone to look into it?
Thanks for the reply,
Jim
Jim, I have to run to town, but I'll be back later. Then I will instruct you on how to expose this corruption.
Just a word of advice: NEVER associate yourself with this mess. No good has ever come of it.
Re: Local Politics Question
There are several ways for your daughter to avoid having a permanent record. First of all, do not attempt to blackmail the DA; it will backfire on you. Your daughter will get her record expunged after her conviction. This is fairly easy for a misdemeanor. Just hire an attorney to take care of it once her probation ends. If your daughter is a minor, many states seal juvenile records once she turns 18 or 21; also, many states automatically seal convition records after 5-7 years, assuming there is no re-offence.
Re: Local Politics Question
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Quoting
panther10758
Then air in a manner that wont benefit you or your daughter. Your post suggest airing for her benefit to "drop" charges.
'zactly.
Doubtful a DA would yield to any such pressure as well.
Jim, if you want to get it aired as a matter of "for the public good", you are pretty much going to have to wait until after your daughter's case is completely adjudicated/settled. You're way to close to this to go off on a public crusade at this point in time. Yes, most of us take issue with the notion of having a certain class that gets special treatment or is above the law. We know it exists but we don't like it.
That said, let's face it, the wealthy have access to better attorneys, often travel in the same social circle as upstanding citizens, elected officials, have better character witnesses, and on infinitum. Juries and judges are often more sympathetic. Good rich kids get "caught up in bad circles, make mistakes in judgement, ect, etc." Poor kids are "bad apples, hooligans, gang members", etc. Just the reality of life.
Re: Local Politics Question
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4eyedbuzzard
Good rich kids get "caught up in bad circles, make mistakes in judgement, ect, etc." Poor kids are "bad apples, hooligans, gang members", etc. Just the reality of life.
Sound's like my county. Only certain people have power out here. You have to know somebody "important" for the bill of rights to apply to you.
I personally know several of these "outstanding citizens", and they are are corrupt. I have more respect for criminals in jail than I do any of these so-called "politicians". I would never be part of this group.
That said, I suggest the girls attorney look into getting her a deferred sentence. If she successfully completes it, she will not have a conviction.
Good luck, Jim.
Re: Local Politics Question
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blueeagle
Sound's like my county. Only certain people have power out here. You have to know somebody "important" for the bill of rights to apply to you.
I personally know several of these "outstanding citizens", and they are are corrupt. I have more respect for criminals in jail than I do any of these so-called "politicians". I would never be part of this group.
That said, I suggest the girls attorney look into getting her a deferred sentence. If she successfully completes it, she will not have a conviction.
Good luck, Jim.
Evil and Good are not limited by zip codes.
However, very few judges will allow a general "the system is broken and I want it fixed" rant to be aired in their courtroom. That is simply not the place.
I recommend an audience with your local and national lawmakers. Most will make time for a 15 minute conversation with their constituents.
Having said that, your daughter committed a crime. Given my druthers, the equality would be for all to pay the lowest common sentence.
If your daughter's life is ruined by this, I am sorry. However, we do not penalize those that do not break the law by forgiving completely those that do.