July 19, 2011
Do yourself a favor and don’t get arrested in Vermont
I don’t know if people realize this, but the “one phone call” that you’re supposed to get when you’re arrested is only something you can get if you have enough money or a phone card to use the payphone. At least, that’s what happened on the weekend night that I was arrested in November of 2010; I was taken to the correctional facility in South Burlington and, when I asked to make my phone call, they pointed to the payphone and said “There’s the phone.”
I didn’t have any money at all. They also kept saying all night, “Of course you can make a phone call,” and it never happened. I had no chance to call my lawyer by Monday morning, when a correctional officer showed up in my cell and told me to sign a piece of paper that would allow the process of charging me and bringing me to court to proceed. I said “I’d like to call my lawyer, and I haven’t had a chance to do that.” She said “This is just paperwork that you need to fill out.” I said “Really, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I’d rather not sign anything until I’ve talked to my lawyer.” She said “I need you to sign this.” I said “I’m so sorry, but I can’t sign that for you. Really, I’m very sorry.”
Time passed. I had had no chance to make a phone call. Finally, through the door of my cell, I was able to ask a different correctional officer to get in touch with my lawyer for me.
Copyright L. Kochman July 19, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m./11:24 a.m.
Do yourself a favor and don’t get arrested in Vermont
I don’t know if people realize this, but the “one phone call” that you’re supposed to get when you’re arrested is only something you can get if you have enough money or a phone card to use the payphone. At least, that’s what happened on the weekend night that I was arrested in November of 2010; I was taken to the correctional facility in South Burlington and, when I asked to make my phone call, they pointed to the payphone and said “There’s the phone.”
I didn’t have any money at all. They also kept saying all night, “Of course you can make a phone call,” and it never happened. I had no chance to call my lawyer by Monday morning, when a correctional officer showed up in my cell and told me to sign a piece of paper that would allow the process of charging me and bringing me to court to proceed. I said “I’d like to call my lawyer, and I haven’t had a chance to do that.” She said “This is just paperwork that you need to fill out.” I said “Really, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I’d rather not sign anything until I’ve talked to my lawyer.” She said “I need you to sign this.” I said “I’m so sorry, but I can’t sign that for you. Really, I’m very sorry.”
Time passed. I had had no chance to make a phone call. Finally, through the door of my cell, I was able to ask a different correctional officer to get in touch with my lawyer for me.
Copyright L. Kochman July 19, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m./11:24 a.m.