Families of Prisoners Support Group

This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.

1,470 Members

7,146 Posts

0 Online

imissmyson2 04/30/2013

I just googled my son's PD's name. Everything I could find out about him online was beyond EXCELLENT! This makes me very happy.

Before I get too excited and get my son excited I was wondering if anyone had experience in the area of this question: When you get assigned a PD in FL. does the same attorney stay with you throughout your whole case like in the case of Casey Anthony in Clearwater Fl or is that only when it's a Capital Crime?

My son is accused of a serious White Collar crime that could possibly have a hefty penalty attached if he were convicted but not like Casey. I just don't want to be naive and get my hopes up if the attorneys for instance rotate every 30 days or something like that, and he would end up with several attorneys some good some not so good.

In a nutshell is it safe to celebrate?

Cindy

brandnewangel 04/30/2013

think of the worse hope for the best never celebrate to early also even if you have the best pd it's really the judge choice.

vckmag42 05/04/2013

Once you are assigned a public defender they are in for the entire case. Whatever you found online; remember they work side by side with the state so they are going to agree with the state.

ihatewisconsin 05/06/2013

She said that right. And not to burst your bubble, but what is put online is by them, the ones that want to make him look good. Generally, what all of us have experienced is PD's do not give the time, attention and care that our guys need. Mine never called him, never answered his letters, or my calls. Then showed up to court and expected my guy just to plead guilty with no previous discussion about the alternatives. My guy stopped the court hearing and told the judge that this guy had not conferred with him, and he would ask for a continuance to get another lawyer if the man didn't give him time and a good explanation of what was happening. The judge looked disgruntled, and gave him 5 whole minutes. Unfortunately most of us can't afford to hire an attorney and we have no choice.

You have to remember that these guys not only work for the state, they also have a large caseload, and they work side by side with their friends, the DA's.

I don't mean to discourage or scare you but in most people's opinions, PD's do not help at all. They end up agreeing with what the DA wants.

imissmyson2 05/06/2013

Thanks everyone for your honest feedback.
Cindy

ihatewisconsin 05/07/2013

I will contact my friend in that county and see what she has to say about them. I will do that in awhile, then tell you when she responds. Problem is, this friend never used pd's. She can afford high buck powerful attorneys and he worked wonders for her son, over and over again. But I will see what she says.

ihatewisconsin 05/07/2013

Why don't you private message me that PD's name for me to ask my friend about. I don't put names on here because it goes out onto the websites just by triggering the name, and then they would see the post it came from . Private message I don't think does.

Join the Conversation