Two Fridays ago one of my clients, lets call him M was handcuffed outside the building. When I went outside to talk to the cops in plain clothes who arrested him, M was standing near an unmarked police car. The two cops in plain clothes stood a few feet from him.
One of the cops told me M had an open warrant. I knew about the warrant because two months ago I accompanied M to the X District Court to ask them to extend the date.
The sour grape face woman at the X District Court who retrieved M's file refused to budge from 45 days she extended for M.
"M is doing a volunteer work. Is it possible to consider it as a community work?" I placed a verification letter from the agency M was doing the volunteer work.
She didn't even look at it.
"Could you at least give him 60 days?" I asked her in my sweetest voice laced with pure honey.
She shook her head and her No spurt from her mouth so quick even before I finished the question.
Beghok Makye
"Can we see the judge then?" I caught M's eye. He mouthed 'NO'.
"Never mind. 45 days is fine."
Fast forward, he couldn't come up with the amount of money they set for him.
About five minutes later, a Boston Police patrol car arrived and took M away. The cop in plain clothes told me M could make a phone call after they booked him.
Anyway he returned on Monday and gave me some documents from Probation Officer of X District Court. I was to fax the PO a verification letter stated that M is a resident at our program.
On Tuesday morning I called the PO and left him a message. Two days later he returned my call. I asked him all the detail about M's case. It was the court fees that M owed.
I asked him if M could the community work instead of paying the fees. And if he could how many hours did he need to do?
"Sure he can. All he needs to do is 50 hours community work.""
"50 hours only. Officer, are you serious?"
"Why? He'd rather pay the money he owes?"
"No, no, this is fine officer. As a matter fact this is wonderful news."
Every two weeks I have to update him and fax him a verification letter from the agency M is doing a community work until he completes the 50 hours.
If only the woman at the District Court was kind and smart enough when we were there two months ago. Beghokmakye.
Comments