Common Law: Terms of probation

Tuesday9:23 a.m.

We’ve received several questions about what happens to people getting probation. As we’ve explained before, it’s not a free walk. While people don’t stay locked up, their life is restricted. Most of the people we’ve seen receive probation get standard terms they must follow. Judge David Kaufman went through those limitations in the recent sentencing of a bar bouncer. It took Kaufman 18 minutes to fully explain the terms of probation. We’ve condensed it to 2 minutes. (Watch video after the jump)

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Common Law: Youthful squabble nets felony

Oct. 2, 20091:47 p.m.

Dominique Willis, 18, got into an argument over $10. Willis punched another young man and took the money. He was charged with aggravated robbery and faced four years in prison, unless a judge departed from sentencing laws to grant probation.

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Common Law No. 23: the judge reads Chinese

Sept. 16, 20098:30 a.m.

We’ve seen several defendants on Common Law receive probation instead of going to prison. But as public defender Lacy Gilmour explained, just because you get out of jail, that doesn’t mean freedom. Justin Kelly was lucky to get out, after skipping court last month. Judge James Fleetwood doubled his jail time, should he violate his probation. Kelly also learned when you show up for court with a Chinese tattoo, make sure the judge can’t read it. (Watch video after the jump) Read More »

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Common Law, No. 17: Busted over child support

Sept. 1, 20098:30 a.m.

Several times each day, people show up to see their probation officer only to find that they have a warrant for their arrest. The probation officers call across the street to the Judicial Division of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department for a deputy to make the arrest. Sometimes, Deputy Dioane Gates knows the people he’s arresting.

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