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Kathianne
11-17-2007, 07:26 AM
This is from Craigslist, open forum, no name, so I'm posting it all:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/70300494.html



Some Advice From Your Public Defender
Date: 2005-04-26, 10:49AM PDT


First, let me say I love my job and it is a privilege to work for my clients. I wish I could do more for them. That being said, there are a few things that need to be discussed.

You have the right to remain silent. So SHUT THE FUCK UP. Those cops are completely serious when they say your statements can and will be used against you. There’s just no need to babble on like it’s a drink and dial session. They are just pretending to like you and be interested in you.

When you come to court, consider your dress. If you’re charged with a DUI, don’t wear a Budweiser shirt. If you have some miscellaneous drug charge, think twice about clothing with a marijuana leaf on it or a t-shirt with the “UniBonger” on it. Long sleeves are very nice for covering tattoos and track marks. Try not to be visibly drunk when you show up.

Consider bathing and brushing your teeth. This is just as a courtesy to me who has to stand by you in court. Smoking 5 generic cigarettes to cover up your bad breath is not the same as brushing. Try not to cough and spit on my while you speak and further transmit your strep, flu, and hepatitis A through Z.

I’m a lawyer, not your fairy godmother. I probably won’t find a loophole or technicality for you, so don’t be pissed off. I didn’t beat up your girlfriend, steal that car, rob that liquor store, sell that crystal meth, or rape that 13 year old. By the time we meet, much of your fate has been sealed, so don’t be too surprised by your limited options and that I’m the one telling you about them.

Don’t think you’ll improve my interest in your case by yelling at me, telling me I’m not doing anything for you, calling me a public pretender or complaining to my supervisor. This does not inspire me, it makes me hate you and want to work with you even less.

It does not help if you leave me nine messages in 17 minutes. Especially if you leave them all on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. This just makes me want to stab you in the eye when we finally meet.

For the guys: Don’t think I’m amused when you flirt or offer to “do me.” You can’t successfully rob a convenience store, forge a signature, pawn stolen merchandise, get through a day without drinking, control your temper, or talk your way out of a routine traffic stop. I figure your performance in other areas is just as spectacular, and the thought of your shriveled unwashed body near me makes me want to kill you and then myself.

For the girls: I know your life is rougher than mine and you have no resources. I’m not going to insult you by suggesting you leave your abusive pimp/boyfriend, that you stop taking meth, or that your stop stealing shit. I do wish you’d stop beating the crap out of your kids and leaving your needles out for them to play with because you aren’t allowing them to have a life that is any better than yours.

For the morons: Your second grade teacher was right – neatness counts. Just clean up! When you rob the store, don’t leave your wallet. When you drive into the front of the bank, don’t leave the front license plate. When you rape/assault/rob a woman on the street, don’t leave behind your cell phone. After you abuse your girlfriend, don’t leave a note saying that you’re sorry.

If you are being chased by the cops and you have dope in your pocket – dump it. These cops are not geniuses. They are out of shape and want to go to Krispy Kreme and most of all go home. They will not scour the woods or the streets for your 2 grams of meth. But they will check your pockets, idiot. 2 grams is not worth six months of jail.

Don’t be offended and say you were harassed because the security was following you all over the store. Girl, you were wearing an electronic ankle bracelet with your mini skirt. And you were stealing. That’s not harassment, that’s good store security.

And those kids you churn out: how is it possible? You’re out there breeding like feral cats. What exactly is the attraction of having sex with other meth addicts? You are lacking in the most basic aspects of hygiene, deathly pale, greasy, grey-toothed, twitchy and covered with open sores. How can you be having sex? You make my baby-whoring crack head clients look positively radiant by comparison.

"I didn't put it all the way in." Not a defense.

"All the money is gone now." Not a defense

"The bitch deserved it." Not a defense.

"But that dope was so stepped on, I barely got high." Not a defense.

"She didn't look thirteen." Possibly a defense; it depends.

"She didn't look six." Never a defense, you just need to die.

For those rare clients that say thank-you, leave a voice mail, send a card or flowers, you are very welcome. I keep them all, and they keep me going more than my pitiful COLA increase.

For the idiots who ask me how I sleep at night: I sleep just fine, thank you. There's nothing wrong with any of my clients that could not have been fixed with money or the presence of at least one caring adult in their lives. But that window has closed, and that loss diminishes us all.

manu1959
11-17-2007, 12:19 PM
i liked this line......

Don’t be offended and say you were harassed because the security was following you all over the store. Girl, you were wearing an electronic ankle bracelet with your mini skirt. And you were stealing. That’s not harassment, that’s good store security.

Kathianne
11-17-2007, 12:20 PM
i liked this line......

Don’t be offended and say you were harassed because the security was following you all over the store. Girl, you were wearing an electronic ankle bracelet with your mini skirt. And you were stealing. That’s not harassment, that’s good store security.

I liked this:


"I didn't put it all the way in." Not a defense.

"All the money is gone now." Not a defense

"The bitch deserved it." Not a defense.

"But that dope was so stepped on, I barely got high." Not a defense.

"She didn't look thirteen." Possibly a defense; it depends.

"She didn't look six." Never a defense, you just need to die.

hjmick
11-17-2007, 12:24 PM
Having a daughter with a less than stellar (I'm being generous, she's what many of us, me included, would consider a dirtbag) legal record, I have to say, this was damn amusing and accurate.

82Marine89
11-17-2007, 12:31 PM
My favorite line...


And those kids you churn out: how is it possible? You’re out there breeding like feral cats. What exactly is the attraction of having sex with other meth addicts? You are lacking in the most basic aspects of hygiene, deathly pale, greasy, grey-toothed, twitchy and covered with open sores. How can you be having sex? You make my baby-whoring crack head clients look positively radiant by comparison.

Kathianne
11-17-2007, 12:32 PM
Having a daughter with a less than stellar (I'm being generous, she's what many of us, me included, would consider a dirtbag) legal record, I have to say, this was damn amusing and accurate.

I'm sorry about your daughter, but when I read this I just thought of how many times my brother said, "If the bad guys weren't so damn stupid, most of the cops couldn't catch a jay walker." Mind you, he is a cop. :laugh2:

truthmatters
11-17-2007, 12:34 PM
Lifes journey is very confusing to some. Im sorry your daughter has found it so confusing. I hope she finds her way and your love will no doubt still help her.

gabosaurus
11-17-2007, 12:38 PM
My cousin Dahlia's husband is a legal aid to the public defender's office. So I have heard all of this and more. It would be both funny and sad if it wasn't so remarkably accurate.


I’m not going to insult you by suggesting you leave your abusive pimp/boyfriend, that you stop taking meth, or that your stop stealing shit.

Unfortunately, I have actually heard this one. A pimp/drug dealer was being tried for beating the crap out of a juvenile female. They were "living together" and the girl stole drugs from him.
Even in the hospital, the girl did not want to press charges. She wanted the guy back, because if he went to jail, she would have no place to live and no meth/crack dealer.
I can't believe that this is what our society has come to. :(

hjmick
11-17-2007, 12:38 PM
I'm sorry about your daughter, but when I read this I just thought of how many times my brother said, "If the bad guys weren't so damn stupid, most of the cops couldn't catch a jay walker." Mind you, he is a cop. :laugh2:

Thanks, but there's no need to be sorry. Her issues stem from untreated mental illness and a continuous series of bad decisions. Her mother and I did what we could while we could, but, as you know, when they hit adulthood there is little or nothing a parent can do. We let her know we love her and that when and if she gets clean we're there for her, but we have taken the "tough love" approach over the last few years.

ANd your brother is right, the bad guys are stupid for the most part. The ones who aren't, they make stupid decisions.

Kathianne
11-17-2007, 12:44 PM
Thanks, but there's no need to be sorry. Her issues stem from untreated mental illness and a continuous series of bad decisions. Her mother and I did what we could while we could, but, as you know, when they hit adulthood there is little or nothing a parent can do. We let her know we love her and that when and if she gets clean we're there for her, but we have taken the "tough love" approach over the last few years.

ANd your brother is right, the bad guys are stupid for the most part. The ones who aren't, they make stupid decisions.

Mental illness and that keep family members from being able to keep the afflicted staying with treatment is one of the ways we have really let some people down. I think it has more to do with homelessness and drug abuse than probably any other single issue. I understand that people would take advantage of children or elderly with trust funds and such, but when psychiatrists will testify that meds and therapy over time can help, but the person refuses, the courts go 'oh well.' If they attempt suicide you can usually get them committed for 10 days or so. If they threaten, 72 hours. Guess what? As soon as they are out, they'll stop with the meds. It takes at least 3 weeks.

truthmatters
11-17-2007, 12:49 PM
Its a hard road. It sometimes takes after a few times of getting on meds and staying on them for a time until they feel normal. They then often get to a point where they say to themselves "I dont need these meds" only to spiral back down. Keep hope in your heart for her and never totally give up. It is very hard to help them if they dont see they need help.