Hello Leivah1,

I am very sorry that you are going through this. I am writing to say that I have gone through the same for a long time, unfortunatly. My experience with my son and public defenders was extra difficult at an already unbearable time. We were promised he would be visited by them so many times, calls went unanswered and there was not a care in the world by them. This is similar with paid attorneys, but they at least pretended they cared. They are all just going through the motions-doing a job. Here I am a handful of years later, reflecting back and realizing there is nothing I could do to fix any of what my son did and that is the cold, hard truth.

Bottom line is that you need to find resources for yourself to deal with all that is happening. Talking, crying, complaining to someone you trust (family and or friends I hope). Because no matter what, you have no control over anything that is happening, that is if your son is truly guilty of the crime he has been arrested for. The system will do their thing regardless. Please try to seek out an outlet of meditation and therapy because if you don't, you will go insane more and more everyday.

I wish you the very best. Sending hugs.

Hi Leivah1, I too have been there with public defenders for my son. My son even wrote a letter to the judge requesting a new one with no avail. Unfortunately there is little you can do. After months of my son sitting in jail and not seeing his public defender i started calling every day. I eventually was able to speak with him and with my objection to the charges that the DA office was trying to charge my son with I was able to make enough of a stink to get most of the charges dropped. Don't get me wrong my son did steal checks and write them while on Meth. So he does need to spend time in prison. I do believe that if you break the law then you should be punished. I only hope my son gets undivided help for his drug addiction (I tried to help but it didn't work) The judge gave my son 66 months for writing 7 checks. This seems way to much for me but the public defender was of no help. I couldn't afford an attorney for my son so i was stuck. I will feel guilty for the rest of my life for this. I cry daily but I do get to speak with him often. For this I am very lucky. He is in the intake process then will be transferred to a prison here in Oregon. I have only been dealing with this for a few months but it already seems like an eternity. I can only say keep your head up and pray for the best outcome possible. Sending positive thoughts to you and your family. These discussion group help. Its nice to talk with others going through the same hell........

I don't know what to say. Being a public defender must be hard, but I know my son had two. One worked very hard for him, doing everything she could and the other just told him to take what he had coming, not to fight it, don't take it to trail. She rolled her eyes, talked on her phone, and laughed and joked, and had the nerve to sit with her back to him at sentencing. I am frustrated and raging to at the length of his sentence, the other public defender, the bailiffs, and others involved are too. I am trying to find money to start proceedings against her as misrepresentation or poor representation, whatever it takes. Not all people in jail are bad people, there are a lot of good people who made a bad choice and are punished severely while others go free. I keep praying to God for the strength to forgive and to watch over my son. Not what you were looking for, not an answer but you are not alone.