Sacramento County Jail

Pre-sentencing

Interview with Zach

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.

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

JM: What was your court appearance like?
Zach: In and out, did not get to say two (2) words. It lasted about 30 seconds.