Sacramento County Jail

Pre-sentencing

Interview with Zach and Trevor


JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Zach: After my arrest, I was confined first on the 7th floor of the main jail, in a cell with no books, papers to read, and confined for 24 hours out of the day, no showers, not even going out for chow, as it was shoved into the cell through a slot in the cell door. and, no phone calls, nothing but hearing the clange of doors open or close down the tier. This was all I did while awaiting classification, then after 2 1/2 days, I was reclassified and sent to a new cell on a lower floor. I went to my arrignment, where the charges I had been arrested for were read to me in open court. I was asked: Did I have money for an attorney or would I like the county to appoint a public defender to represent me in court, if I could not afford to hire one. The cost for an attorney to appear and go through all from arraignment to trial was $15,000.00. That was even if I was convicted and sent to prison.
Trevor: All women are subjected to at least 23 hr lock down. We are not permitted to do any work unless granted to be the 'house mouse' which there is only two per every 88 prisoners. Kept inside a cell barely big enough for one but made to house two. The guards treat inmates as if they (we) are there enemies, scum of the earth and there job to make sure our visit is that of nothing easy.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning?
Zach: No they didn’t.
Trevor: No. Why?

JM: What was your court appearance like?
Zach: In and out, did not get to say two (2) words. It lasted about 30 seconds.
Trevor: I had a lawyer new to the panel. She was unfamiliar with the definition of a 'mandated sentence' lied about having the district attorney and the judge RECOMMEND alternative sentencing and sent her PI to scare me into taking a sentence that was 4 months longer then the worse possible for the crime committed. Yeah, thanks Kate Johnston.