Can we talk?

The Local Judicial System

         We went to court today to testify against someone who stole cash from our house. We were disappointed with the court proceedings, but realized we wouldn't have gotten any of our money back from her. My dad didn't have to testify. I was only there to make sure he was okay and help with his hearing.

         My cousin brought her adopted child to our house to clean for us. We trusted her, to a degree. I was at work when she was there. My dad won't babysit anyone. But there were two rooms he didn't want anyone to enter. One of her weeks there, he happened to count the cash in his file cabinet and discovered a lot of bills were missing. On further checking, he found more money from other envelopes and bank bags missing.

         Then he searched the house and discovered a lot of coins missing. Rolls of quarters, dimes, and nickels. She didn't bother with pennies. Dad had rolled my brother's coins after his death, and they were substantial. Mom had bought old coins, worth more than face value. They were all gone. We tried to figure it out, how she got those heavy things out of the house without calling attention to herself.

         I'll skip the details for now. She admitted to the investigator that she took the coins over 3-5 weeks. She denied taking the bills. It came to over $3000, so that is grand larceny. She had 3 charges against her, but they offered her a plea bargain. Plead guilty to the first two, the third would be dropped. She'd have to do 60 days in jail, 10 months suspended, and pay restitution. Now we get to the part that I found surprising. The court decided our insurance company would be responsible for the loss, and she only has to pay the deductible!

         So if you rob someone of a million dollars, you only have to return the deductible on the insurance policy. Isn't that nice for the criminal? The insurance company won't be repaid ever, even if the criminal strikes it rich after the jail time. She gets a year to pay the deductible to the court after she does her time. They're working with her on her time to serve after her doctors' appointments. They're so understanding of her unemployment and circumstances! She did not go to jail today.

         Here's the thing, though. She and her boyfriend, also unemployed, do drugs. And they support his mother, also unemployed. I don't expect her to pay the court the money within the guidelines they give her. She'll probably go back to jail before the year is up. Plus, druggies need more drugs. Her boyfriend and his mom will probably get her to do something wrong again. I feel sad for her. She's in with the wrong people. But I'm shocked with the court system.