Going to jail....(Updated......no pics)

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Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
They just have you mixed up with someone else. If you volunteer with the PD, just ask a cop you know what to do.

I had a situation similar once, I forgot to show up for a ticket I got out of town. I remembered like the day of the court date, so I mailed a money order. They actually sent a local sheriff to pick me up, but I wasn't home. My grandma talked to him, he said I should just go downtown.
I did, told the magistrate what happened, and he released me with my signature to appear on the next date. Of course I never went, since I had already paid the ticket.
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
2
0


<< Sounds like the judicial system at its finest again.... Morons. >>

Before you start calling people morons you might want to try working their job for a while. My mom works at the courthouse in felony and just like in any other job people make mistakes.

If it says there is a warrent out go down and take care of it now. Do not wait or you may get arressted at an even worse time. It is probably a case of someone esle's charges placed on your name.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
If you are absolutely, 100% certain that they have nothing on you, and it is just as you say, go to your court date and explain to the judge, just as you have here. He may just dismiss it all. :)
 

J3anyus

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2001
2,774
0
76


<< Sounds like the judicial system at its finest again.... Morons. >>



Exactly...that really sucks, hopefully you'll get everything sorted out, as it sounds like it's just an error.
 

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
i'd be so pissed off. it's understandable that they make mistakes, but also unacceptable.
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81


<<

<< Sounds like the judicial system at its finest again.... Morons. >>

Before you start calling people morons you might want to try working their job for a while. My mom works at the courthouse in felony and just like in any other job people make mistakes.

If it says there is a warrent out go down and take care of it now. Do not wait or you may get arressted at an even worse time. It is probably a case of someone esle's charges placed on your name.
>>



But you can't just say that "Everyone makes mistakes". I know I would be pretty ticked off if somebody made a mistake that caused me to spend a night in jail. Last thing I want is to drop the soap. ;)

Some jobs it is a lot less important to make a mistake as say making a mistake that is going to cause someone to spend a night in jail!
 

Phil21

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2000
1,015
0
0
No.. it's not just "any" job. When you're screwing with someones life, and can in all respects make or break someone off of your "mistakes" there is a certain amount of care that is needing to be taken. However, this care doesn't seem to be. The general uncaringness of these people astounds me, it's just asinine. These people are playing with taking away a fundamental human right (freedom), and by doing so could also be screwing with someones life to the point of beyond repair. Many people can't afford to sit a week in the county jail, and miss work. No money for rent that month then, and now you're being evicted. Whatever, you figure out a case of your own. :)

All I'm saying is I expect people who work in jobs that deal with VERY important and touchy stuff like this, should generally care more about what they do than the cashier working at McDonalds. Unfortunately this is rarely the case, and much of it probably has to do with the poor personell hired on, due to budget contraints (you can only get a certain calibre of person in a big city for $8/hr). Of course, there are those that do a dang good job, but the bad apples stick out far more.

oh well, just my thoughts having dealt with incompetence in the whole messed up court system.

And sysadmin, I live in New Hope up here (NW metro), nice to have a local guy. :)

-Phil
 

aimn

Banned
Feb 14, 2001
683
0
0
I asked a lawyer if I could sue the County for me having to pay $500 to show that they made a mistake. He laughed and said "no". I said "you mean that they can mess up, arrest the wrong person, file false charges, make me pay to defend myself against there mistake. And I cant get my costs back?!?" He said "yep".
I am either going to do the following: Pay the ticket (which I am not guilty and dont have the money to pay it, especially at xmas time)
Go to court and fight it by myself (fat chance of any success, and might get arrested on the spot)
Get arrested and sit in jail until they figure out that they made a mistake.
I am going to call my Sgt. on the PD today, worse that could happen is that I get kicked off of the reserves
I am sure that this b!tch at the County Attorneys office here's it all. But it still isnt right that she wouldnt at least listen to me and double check.
 

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
I don't know but if it were me, I would just go down to the police station and try to get it squared away. The longer you wait the worse you are making it. If you have nothing to hide, then why hide? I have never been in trouble in my life so I know how you must feel, pretty cheated. But their must be a way to clear this up without wasting money. Why don't you at least ask for the dates of when the crime was comitted? Just questioning their records IN PERSON should be enough to clear the mess up.
 
May 16, 2000
13,522
0
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hahahhaha, dude this is so typical. Stuff like that comes up all the time. But if you're on the reserves, you've got no worries. Their background check covers what they're accusing you of being in violation of, so if you really had that on your record then you couldn't have made it on to the reserves in the first place. Definately call your sgt, explain EVERYTHING to him. He'll probably have you come down. Just do it. Jails are almost always massively overbooked this time of year anyway, so even if they do initially file something against you, it'll be cite and release. Then they'll clear it up and tell you to forget it.

If things get really ugly your best choice is terrible press. Make every person involved, from the police chief to the mayor, look like complete idiots. Go door to door, mail flyers, start a campaign...all aimed at disgracing every political figure in your county. With elections coming up next year I guarantee you they will do ANYTHING to shut you up, apologize, give money, sweep tickets aside, anything. There is no more corrupt body than American politicians, rest assured they can be blackmailed. :cool:
 

ChrichtonsGirl

Platinum Member
Aug 24, 2000
2,454
1
0
It sounds like Ms. Cline has you mistaken for someone else. Do you have a common name? Or a name that's close to a common name? Maybe she had her callbacks on a list and the guy before or after you is the one with a warrant.

You're not going to jail - like you said, how could you violate your probation if you've never been sentenced to probation? Unless you're living in the absolute sticks, they do things like verify identity through fingerprints before they lock you up and throw away the key. I think calling your Sargeant is a good idea; you explain that you were trying to reach Ms. Cline to make sure there wasn't a dismissal for your ticket and she all of a sudden thinks you're some guy who's violated probation. It wouldn't hurt to make a call to the Public Defender's office and see what their take is on all this. They may be able to sort it out just by making a couple of quick phone calls.

Hang in there - the DA's and courthouse employees are generally majorly overworked and not happy about it. They don't have time to do much other than repeat what's on the computer screen in front of them, whether it's right or wrong. Keep in mind, they've probably heard every lie, excuse and sob story in the book and unfortunately, just don't listen anymore. To them, you're just another slimeball who violated probation trying to claim mistaken identity.

Hey, if they "come get you" for the prob. violation - if they've got the wrong guy, they won't be coming to your address anyway. It sounds more likely that they just have you mixed up with someone else (and you caught Ms. Cline on a particularly bad attitude day) than that they actually have you in the system as whoever this other guy is.
 

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
1
81
Just don't screw yourself by not getting a lawyer.
I am sure plenty of lawyers will talk to you for less than $500.
 
Jan 18, 2001
14,465
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Um... maybe the mistake was when Ms. Cline looked up your record. Have you gotten any notice that you do in fact have a warrant for you arrest?

You will be sent written notice of any court decisions or transactions....until then I wouldn't worry about it too much.