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McAvoy wrote:I think what you said about paying for lawyer is spot on with my parents line of thinking, especially my Dad. I think he wants my brother to get his act together, but with these legal troubles he is in now, he needs help. I do not doubt that if he beats these charges against him, that my Dad will come down on him like a ton of bricks.

That's the thing - "tough love" can be a useful concept, but it falls down when one is watching his child suffer. Especially in a case like this, when your brother can't get his act together until he's out of his legal situation.

The problem is that my brother will probably never get his act together even if these legal troubles are settled. Maybe prison will fix it for him.

But really it isn't about my brother it is the environment of his daughter will grow up in. She'll be lucky if she grows up normal.

McAvoy wrote:...Maybe prison will fix it for him.

Prison isn't about fixing people.

McAvoy wrote:But really it isn't about my brother it is the environment of his daughter will grow up in. She'll be lucky if she grows up normal.

That's the most important thing right there. Make sure the kid at least has a chance. Your parents should be spending the attorney fees to hire someone to look into gaining custody of your niece.

I meant prison as in the environment, not the system.

You are correct. The way it was described to me, I think part of the $5,000 spent on the lawyer is to gain custody of the baby. The big question is other grandparents as well. I only met them at the wedding and they seem to be decent people.

McAvoy wrote:I meant prison as in the environment, not the system.

I meant both. The environment in prison is not conducive to rehabilitation. This is a product of the current system.

We have what, a 70% rate of recidivism?

I think he meant an environment of structure and consequence, not specifically a prison environment. The failure of our prison system to rehabilitate is due to all the stuff that goes on despite the intent of the system, not to the concept of prison.

Too bad he never took up the idea of going from reserve to active. E-6 ain't too shabby, and this guy sounds like he could have used that climate.

Good god, when it rains it storms. My divorce papers were served to me, while trying to deal with my mom's trouble in my spare time, and my department so short, I've had no time for anything.

The fuckers held a hearing without me (i was never notified), and now I've got to contest it too.

To quote a wise man, "I picked a hell of a day to quit drinkin'"

Yeesh, Mark! Never notified? Is that... legal?

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote: Is that... legal?

I don't believe so, no. But, without spending a fortune on a lawyer, good luck getting a court to care.

I'm honestly at the "fuck it" point right now. I can't seem to make myself care....and that scares me.

No lawyer will talk to me without a $1500 retainer.

Tsukiyumi wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote: Is that... legal?

I don't believe so, no. But, without spending a fortune on a lawyer, good luck getting a court to care.

It is quite possible that the notification was lost somewhere along the way. It may have been filed somewhere to be sent, but the person in charge of sending things may have lost or never seen it. (It may not be what happened, but it is a possibility)

Mark wrote:I'm honestly at the "f**k it" point right now. I can't seem to make myself care....and that scares me.

No lawyer will talk to me without a $1500 retainer.

Report it for public council or speak to a Family Affairs Judge where you don't need a lawyer. That would be your best bet for something like this.

Or if you've just decided to wash your hands of it, time for some food and milkshakes.

Well, I'm currently watching Star Trek the Final Frontier on syfy channel. This is probably a bad idea right before bed. I almost can't take it seriously.

Wait... that implies you took it somewhat seriously.

Agh, the end of tomorrow cannot come fast enough!

7 and a half hours working on my computer today. Not fun.