Yesterday was difficult child's court date on the domestic violence charge. We got there at 8:15 for our 9:00 hearing time. I thought it was going to be a light court day because by 8:50 there was only us and two other families. Then all heck broke loose as the hallway and waiting rooms quickly filled up with so many kids and probation officers and public defenders and guards that you couldn't breath. difficult child's eyes got wide when a big burly guard ordered everyone to one side of the hallway as another guard led a heavily shakled young man down the corridor. Several other juveniles came in wearing detention clothes and shackled. It's a terribly depressing place.
We sat forever it seemed waiting for our turn, watching the parade of juveniles. Our attorney talked to us and then the prosecutor talked to us to find out some background and what we wanted to happen. I came out crying and husband's eyes were teared and difficult child thought she was a goner. difficult child's attorney came back in and told us they were willing to amend the charges to a minor misdemeanor of unruliness, no detention time and she could have it expunged in two years if there were no further problems. The prosecutor felt that we were doing everything a PO would do and more so there was no sense in ordering that. She took the plea, wise choice.
Then we went in front of the magistrate who read difficult child her rights and asked her what happened that day and took her plea. He excused the prosecutor and looked at difficult child and asked her what she was doing there, did she see the young men they brought in in shackles? She had told him she got mad that we took her car away. He told her none of the kids in the hallway waiting their turn had cars and did she know how lucky she was to have two parents sitting with her today because take a look out in the hall and some of those kids have no one. Then he told her that her that he has been waiting years to meet her dad, that he is just about one of the finest constitutional lawyers anywhere and has been hearing great things about him for years and he was worried about not reading her rights correctly in front of him and what the heck was she doing here, she didn't belong here, most of those kids out there didn't even have dads. He told her she had one of the finest psychiatrists around and she should start taking advantage of the opportunities and help she has available to her. He ordered her to pay $50 court costs and told her it had to come out of her money, we could not pay it.
When we left both husband and her lawyer told her she has no idea how lucky she was and that she just received the last break she would ever get in juvenile court.
On the way home she put a cd in for me to listen to. She said the song said what she wanted to say. I don't know who sang it but it was a tear jerker about being sorry and not understanding why she does the things she does to hurt us. It was a moment....I don't know how long that will last but it was a moment.
by the way when we were in the waiting room overhearing all the attorneys and po's talking to the kids and parents, one of them said....'Oh yes oppositional defiant." My ears always perk up when I hear that word. I'm sure most of the kids in there fit that category.
I'm relieved it's over but I know this was her last chance and I hope that she can get through the next 13 months without further court involvement. I don't ever want to go back there.
Nancy
We sat forever it seemed waiting for our turn, watching the parade of juveniles. Our attorney talked to us and then the prosecutor talked to us to find out some background and what we wanted to happen. I came out crying and husband's eyes were teared and difficult child thought she was a goner. difficult child's attorney came back in and told us they were willing to amend the charges to a minor misdemeanor of unruliness, no detention time and she could have it expunged in two years if there were no further problems. The prosecutor felt that we were doing everything a PO would do and more so there was no sense in ordering that. She took the plea, wise choice.
Then we went in front of the magistrate who read difficult child her rights and asked her what happened that day and took her plea. He excused the prosecutor and looked at difficult child and asked her what she was doing there, did she see the young men they brought in in shackles? She had told him she got mad that we took her car away. He told her none of the kids in the hallway waiting their turn had cars and did she know how lucky she was to have two parents sitting with her today because take a look out in the hall and some of those kids have no one. Then he told her that her that he has been waiting years to meet her dad, that he is just about one of the finest constitutional lawyers anywhere and has been hearing great things about him for years and he was worried about not reading her rights correctly in front of him and what the heck was she doing here, she didn't belong here, most of those kids out there didn't even have dads. He told her she had one of the finest psychiatrists around and she should start taking advantage of the opportunities and help she has available to her. He ordered her to pay $50 court costs and told her it had to come out of her money, we could not pay it.
When we left both husband and her lawyer told her she has no idea how lucky she was and that she just received the last break she would ever get in juvenile court.
On the way home she put a cd in for me to listen to. She said the song said what she wanted to say. I don't know who sang it but it was a tear jerker about being sorry and not understanding why she does the things she does to hurt us. It was a moment....I don't know how long that will last but it was a moment.
by the way when we were in the waiting room overhearing all the attorneys and po's talking to the kids and parents, one of them said....'Oh yes oppositional defiant." My ears always perk up when I hear that word. I'm sure most of the kids in there fit that category.
I'm relieved it's over but I know this was her last chance and I hope that she can get through the next 13 months without further court involvement. I don't ever want to go back there.
Nancy