I could not afford a lawyer. When I got arrested I had about $2500 saved up and by the time I got out I had negative $900. I also had lost my house, job, car, and everything I owned was taken to Oklahoma(I live in Colorado) by my brothers to keep it from getting thrown away. I wish I could of gotten a lawyer chances are I could of walked away with a traffic infraction for careless or reckless driving.
My public defender was terrible. I had to do everything in my case. I had to explain to him how you have to have at least 7 grams in your possession for them to charge you with intent to distribute. I had about 2 grams I think because my blood pressure meds are 50 mg each and I had a whole script. I then had to drive down there 3 different times after being let out because he didn't give my prescriptions or medical paperwork to the DA after I sent them to him and he had over a month to give them to him. I was also the one who got myself a PR bond. He told me that they aren't going to give me a PR bond because of the charges and I don't have any family in state.
When I explained that I had already missed 4 weeks of school and that I was about to lose my financial aid, my job, and house (that I had already lost) The judge dropped my $10,000 bond to a PR bond(personal recognizance) and I got transferred to the county I was doing probation in. It only took me 10 days to get a PR bond there luckily. I was able to finish 2 of my 3 classes with a b and C which sucks because I would of had 3 A's and I would still have my financial aid.