I'm so frustrated, but maybe it's premature.
We went to court. The public defender came over and asked who were were, checked his charges and asked if we had a lawyer for him or were going to get one.
husband said no and he didn't think he was going to get one. She said the charges are pretty serious. (3rd degree felony for drug possession of prescription drug with-o a prescription). She looked at difficult child, "Do you want an attorney, this is serious." He said he didn't know. The public defender pressed: "Do you want one or not?"
He said he guessed so. So husband had to fill out papers; I told him not to add my income (which is 20% higher than husband's).
A few minutes later the PubD came over again. She would be it. She went into the spiel about how he was just 12 and a half and they'd enter not guilty and talk to him about justifiable defenses, etc...but not to worry he was young, a few hours community service, a diversion program (which he's had twice), etc...
It was clear to me she didn't understand what was going on, she thought he was just a first time offender who made a bad choice and maybe got in with the 'wrong group'. So I spoke up and said, "Is all this true even with his history?"
husband got very tense next to me and started to speak up but the PubDef said, "Is there a history?" I held up 4 fingers. husband was sputtering, "not now, you don't need to..."
PubDef said, "4 times? But they were all misdemeanors?" I just barely shook my head no. husband said, "He's been in trouble before." I could tell he was furious.
The PubDef looked at difficult child and gave him a little speech about behaving himself and how this was very serious and if he didn't stop it, he would be charged as an adult for this charge sooner or later and be facing 15 years in a real prison.
Then she went away. husband told me I shouldn't have said anything. I told him you can't lie to your lawyer. He pointed out she wasn't MY lawyer. We sat in frosty silence. After a while he patted my leg, I ignored him.
The CPS lady wasn't there. I don't know if she was supposed to be. When husband and difficult child went up to the lectern the judge said to difficult child like he asked every kid, "Did you thank your parents for taking time off today to bring you here?" difficult child made a big show of hugging and thanking husband.
The judge asked if he had a lawyer, the PubDef entered a none guilty plea, the judge asked if difficult child was doing well at home, husband said no, there were issues. difficult child is bald as a billiard ball from boot camp, and the judge asked if he were in a regular school, husband said last year he'd been in military school, this year he was going to go to a regular school. The judge said some stuff I didn't understand and then said the next hearing would be Sep 10. The PubDef pointed to the seat and told husband to sit down.
While they were continuing on with other cases, husband noted that the CPS lady wasn't there and maybe they didn't know about difficult child's past history. When a couple other felonies were offered settlements (plea bargains) that didn't sound too bad, he hoped that maybe he'd be offered one, another diversion program with probation and community service. He was hoping difficult child would skate under the radar again. I was beyond disgusted.
After a long while we wondered why we were still sitting there, and then a lady from court mental health services came over and said difficult child had to see two different doctors before the next hearing and took husband's numbers so the doctors could contact him.
Then we left. It was a silent ride home and is silent now. difficult child had a few questions about the doctors he had to see. husband told him that this was to help the judge decide the best place to put him: maybe another diverson program, maybe a special school like the military school difficult child wants to go to, or something. difficult child said he didn't want to go to foster care but doesn't want to live here or at juvvy. husband said the judge probably doesn't want to put difficult child in juvvy, the judge wants what's best for difficult child, and husband said again about going to the military school and even said to difficult child that he'd get some say in the matter. difficult child was reassured. I was disgusted.
So now we are home. All that happened was difficult child has a court appted attorney, which will probably cost about $600, and two doctor apptments, and the prosecutor doesn't seem to know about difficult child's history, and the cps lady is no where in sight.
I think it's a good possibility husband will get his hopes fulfilled and difficult child will skate and be home with us like nothing happened. The kid has committed 5 felonies and has pled no contest to 3 or them, had the school cover up one of them, and looks like he's going to get off on this one too.
I really, really really don't understand it.
We went to court. The public defender came over and asked who were were, checked his charges and asked if we had a lawyer for him or were going to get one.
husband said no and he didn't think he was going to get one. She said the charges are pretty serious. (3rd degree felony for drug possession of prescription drug with-o a prescription). She looked at difficult child, "Do you want an attorney, this is serious." He said he didn't know. The public defender pressed: "Do you want one or not?"
He said he guessed so. So husband had to fill out papers; I told him not to add my income (which is 20% higher than husband's).
A few minutes later the PubD came over again. She would be it. She went into the spiel about how he was just 12 and a half and they'd enter not guilty and talk to him about justifiable defenses, etc...but not to worry he was young, a few hours community service, a diversion program (which he's had twice), etc...
It was clear to me she didn't understand what was going on, she thought he was just a first time offender who made a bad choice and maybe got in with the 'wrong group'. So I spoke up and said, "Is all this true even with his history?"
husband got very tense next to me and started to speak up but the PubDef said, "Is there a history?" I held up 4 fingers. husband was sputtering, "not now, you don't need to..."
PubDef said, "4 times? But they were all misdemeanors?" I just barely shook my head no. husband said, "He's been in trouble before." I could tell he was furious.
The PubDef looked at difficult child and gave him a little speech about behaving himself and how this was very serious and if he didn't stop it, he would be charged as an adult for this charge sooner or later and be facing 15 years in a real prison.
Then she went away. husband told me I shouldn't have said anything. I told him you can't lie to your lawyer. He pointed out she wasn't MY lawyer. We sat in frosty silence. After a while he patted my leg, I ignored him.
The CPS lady wasn't there. I don't know if she was supposed to be. When husband and difficult child went up to the lectern the judge said to difficult child like he asked every kid, "Did you thank your parents for taking time off today to bring you here?" difficult child made a big show of hugging and thanking husband.
The judge asked if he had a lawyer, the PubDef entered a none guilty plea, the judge asked if difficult child was doing well at home, husband said no, there were issues. difficult child is bald as a billiard ball from boot camp, and the judge asked if he were in a regular school, husband said last year he'd been in military school, this year he was going to go to a regular school. The judge said some stuff I didn't understand and then said the next hearing would be Sep 10. The PubDef pointed to the seat and told husband to sit down.
While they were continuing on with other cases, husband noted that the CPS lady wasn't there and maybe they didn't know about difficult child's past history. When a couple other felonies were offered settlements (plea bargains) that didn't sound too bad, he hoped that maybe he'd be offered one, another diversion program with probation and community service. He was hoping difficult child would skate under the radar again. I was beyond disgusted.
After a long while we wondered why we were still sitting there, and then a lady from court mental health services came over and said difficult child had to see two different doctors before the next hearing and took husband's numbers so the doctors could contact him.
Then we left. It was a silent ride home and is silent now. difficult child had a few questions about the doctors he had to see. husband told him that this was to help the judge decide the best place to put him: maybe another diverson program, maybe a special school like the military school difficult child wants to go to, or something. difficult child said he didn't want to go to foster care but doesn't want to live here or at juvvy. husband said the judge probably doesn't want to put difficult child in juvvy, the judge wants what's best for difficult child, and husband said again about going to the military school and even said to difficult child that he'd get some say in the matter. difficult child was reassured. I was disgusted.
So now we are home. All that happened was difficult child has a court appted attorney, which will probably cost about $600, and two doctor apptments, and the prosecutor doesn't seem to know about difficult child's history, and the cps lady is no where in sight.
I think it's a good possibility husband will get his hopes fulfilled and difficult child will skate and be home with us like nothing happened. The kid has committed 5 felonies and has pled no contest to 3 or them, had the school cover up one of them, and looks like he's going to get off on this one too.
I really, really really don't understand it.