Personal Narrative: My Experience In Jail

Sentence was passed and in that moment my whole life completely changed. In the background, you could hear the people chant, “Justice has finally been served!” They don’t know me I thought. Everybody makes mistakes, right? But, where was my second chance in life. My luck, the death penalty became legal again and eagerly waiting for me to become its newest member. My palms grew sweaty as always when I grew nervous and scared. There was nothing I could do. These people wanted me to pay for what I put them through.

Put the gun down! Put the gun down! Pow Pow Pow. The gun shots cracked into the air as loud as thunder. One after another. We live day by day not knowing our end. In the blink of an eye our lives can be changed forever. Its life, yet even in knowing this we never expect tragedy to find us. We never expect it to affect our lives and the people we know and love. I’m going to share with you the day tragedy found my life.

On January 22, 2009, I pled guilty to a Class B misdemeanor DUI charge in Logan, Utah. The offense occurred in November of 2008. On the day of the offense, I had consumed alcohol after work with some friends but felt safe to drive. I was an inexperienced drinker and used poor judgment. When I was pulled over my blood alcohol content was below the legal limit, but I was still cited with a DUI. At first I felt like the victim of injustice but soon realized I was actually the victim of my own poor judgment. I accepted the consequences, pled guilty, and made the decision to never find myself in questionable circumstances again. I was fined and sentenced to two days in jail, one year probation, and required to complete an alcohol treatment course.

I soon fell asleep and woke up to the sound of traffic and people yelling as if someone ate the last piece of pie on Thanksgiving. Being half sleep my eyes weren’t fully dilated so I couldn’t see but with one wipe and a closer look at the sign I see the words, “Lew Sterrett Justice Center”. We had arrived at the local jail of the Dallas County. As we walk to the entrance, I was so scared I grabbed papa hand hard as possible. We came to a huge black door with tinted windows so no one could see through. Papa pushed a big red button to the right of the door that mad a loud horn sound. Then the door slowly opened and revealed a room with a door, metal detector and two officers.

My family was extremely upset with my mother and wept for my return. While in jail, I met many good people who had made bad decisions in their lives. I only ate cookies and Ramen noodles, and I drank water. For the first time in my life, I had an affectionate moment with God as I called out to Him. I knew that He was the only one that would get me through this situation. I can recall being shackled at my ankles and hands while being forced to walk to go to the court room for every hearing. I called my oldest sister, Francesca, on every opportunity. I was offered a plea deal of one year in prison and seven years of parole. All I could think about was going home and starting my senior year of high school. I prayed to God for guidance, and I told myself every day that I would soon go home. My father came to see me, and for the first time in my life, I saw him cry. He was extremely hurt, and he told me to stay strong. My family tried everything to pay my $40,000 dollar bond. I was soon left with two options: take the plea or go to trial. Thinking about my future, I was willing to take the plea, but only if it were probation. I had already missed a week of my senior year, and I just wanted to go home. The public defender spoke with the Judge about the First Offender Law, and the Judge lowered the plea to 7 years of probation. On September 21, 2012, I accepted the plea deal of seven years of probation, and I was released that night. My sister picked me up, and I lived with her for a few weeks before reporting to my probation officer. Wasting no time, I returned to school the next day. My peers had heard of the destruction, and my teachers were happy to see me. I became extremely depressed, and I wanted to run away. For the first time in my life, I was portrayed as a criminal. I regretted my actions, but I did not regret defending my

Hey little brother sorry you can't call. I don't have any money on the phone. I haven't spoken with Mj in a month. I am so heartbroken. Your wife told me the great news and I am so happy for you both. Like I told Lamont I really don't talk to no one in Michigan. Kristy (1-2 times a week) Aretha and Fred (every other 3-4 months) maybe. Mom and Cass never. So that's that. You, Lamont and Mj are my concerns as long as you all let me be in your lives I will be. I love all my family dearly; however, along the way we have lost vital parts of who we are as a family. I think long incarcerations have made some feel that they are not family. Many people have forgotten who they are as simply Africans but on a basic level in this family we have forgotten

First of all congrats for having dealt with such a hard decision without using physical violence. This situation made me realized that you used something we call the ABC model without even knowing. I want to show you how you were able to use the model. I was glad that he used a technique without even knowing, which can help him realize that he can react differently not just in an angry way. So I want to break down this particular situation. This way you can get a visual of how the ABC model works. I want to show you how you were able to use this model. It can help you approach situations differently in the future. Have you heard about this model before? I think it’s very important to ask inmates about previous knowledge or information they

I went to go check in the juror assembly room to check for trials, they only knew of one later on in the criminal court. I went to Judge Samuels courtroom because that is where the trial was going to occur later in the day. When I arrived Judge Samuels was doing arraignments which, I found out were very common in the criminal courts. She would give the defendants who had DUI’s options between time in county jail or community service. One of the cases that stood out was a defendant who needed psych sessions. The defendant had just been given a trial and was found guilty so, they had to sentence her. The defendant was convicted of three counts one of them being assault with a deadly weapon, which happened to be a car.

After checking every photo taken during the investigation, the Deputy District Attorney, Michelle Trego asked the detectives to interview the witnesses again. “We want to make certain she pays for this crime,” Michelle said riding up in the elevator with Detective Wallace.

I leave this message here so the few that read it know that I was innocent of all the crimes I have been convicted of. I know that no one believes me, but I feel that there should be documentation of my side of the story somewhere. As I wait for the state to murder me I have reflected on what has happened and have come to the conclusion that I was royally screwed from the beginning. First by the incompetent legal aid lawyer, secondly by the so called witnesses of my crimes, and finally by the twelve peers who were

I felt so bad because i knew she didn’t raise me like this i know my mother raise me good i choose to do wrong. That same day i cry and pray for myself i needed help i needed to find myself i needed to change for good. 4 weeks past my court day was on a monday in the afternoon that monday came i got myself ready for court and for whatever was going to happened i walked down the hallway and open the door and sat down and waited for the Judge to call my name my body start getting hot my hands start shaking i was scared. My name was called i walked inside the courtroom i stand in front the judge lady she said claudia u were charged with battery claudia servie her time claudia will be discharged today at 3:30pm then after that she said you are a pretty girl promise me you will not come back here again if you do i will give you 9 months in jail i was so happy and i said thank you and i promise i will never come back here again the police officer took me down to the first place i got when i first walked in jail he took of the handcuffs and gave me my things and clothes i change and i was picked up and i was gone out that place that was the happiest day of my

I went to the court on October 13, around 10:30. When I first walked in there were a lot of people there I wasn’t expecting that at all. Security was higher than at the magistrate court. There were attorneys there but they stand next to there defendants at all times since it was still assembly justice so the trials didn’t go on for days if the most for about 30 minutes. The first case I had a chance was already on its way so I don’t know how long it had been going on for. The defendant was wearing a dark blue jump suit. As well as he had some chains aournd his waist

Since I didn’t post bail I spent over a month in the same county jail they came to get me for a psych evaluation before my formal hearing.

When they sent me to prison, frustration built up inside of me. There were many reasons for this frustration. Why was I in there? I was sold as a slave, which was not legal by any means. Most of all, what were they saying to me? I could not speak or understand English, so that made it so much worse. I started getting anxious to get out of prison and just get the trial over and done with. Thankfully, a friend of mine learned English and was able to translate. This made things so much easier. When we finally entered the court, I was a nervous wreck, but I could not show my emotions to the people. All of my feelings were bottled up inside of me, that I felt the need to let it all out at once. I started a chant to free us slaves that made me feel on top of the world.

As I was standing in front of the judge many emotions proceeded to give me a nudge,