Families of SOs Community Group

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scarey when Public Defender doesn't know the

missingmyboy
missingmyboy
I had to make my son's Public Defender aware of the second Look project. I literally had to email him a page out of the laws in Oregon regarding his rights as a youth being charged with a measure 11 crime. I also hate it when He tells me he is going to see my son the next day and doesn't show!!!! His philosophy is if there's nothing new on my son's case then he won't go see him. My son who is 15 hasn't seen his PD in over a month. I am so frustrated with this whole situation. My son is being charged with sexual assault for playing a game of I touch you and you touch me. Now he will have to reg as a so for the rest of his life.
Laurie727
Laurie727
How unfair and terrifying at the same time. Do they (the pd) not realize this is your son's whole life and future he holds in his hand? Our laws are out of control. My heart goes out to you. A child's play game equals lifetime on the registry. Unreal.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am not sure about Oregon, but here in FL the PD's a re so busy they cannot possibly give good representation. My guy's case was extended because three PD's over a year quit before his court dates. The final PD looked at his file Monday, called him Tuesday and told him to accept an 18 month plea or he would go to prison for five years. Wednesday he went to prison for a year because the judge gave him the minimum which was 366 days (overriding the plea agreement proposed by the prosecutor). MAYBE three hours was spent on his case. She offerred no defense suggestions whatsoever, and had 500 cases on her desk. All she wanted to do was get it moved to the "closed" files. So much for every American's right to representation. I hope you can talk some sense into your son's PD. If not, maybe you can request one that seems to care. I wish you and your son the best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I understand. I cry for all you are and will go through. I do understand how you feel. My heart is breaking for you. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. After my son's arrest, I promised to fight this with tooth and nail for all of the other children, men and women that these laws are affecting. I will not stop until all is said and done with this movement!
I wish you peace and hope.
Hugs,
RWsMom
Group Founderwisconsinrsol
wisconsinrsol
Ok, just because you have a PD doesn't mean your life is over... it just means that you will need to work a bit harder. PDs are notoriously overworked and underpaid... they are usually not as experienced as your high priced lawyers that have earned a reputation...

1. Study all the statutes in your state that your son is being charged under.
2. Start looking up case law (findlaw.com, openjuris.org, and others)
3. Ask your lawyer questions about the things that you find... even if they didn't think of it... they can tell you why they would or wouldn't use it... or they may have just not thought of it...

I don't recall anyone on here stating that they are prefect, so you can't expect any lawyer to be either... Even if you hate lawyers as I do, they still aren't perfect.