CJA

Reports

Week 1

Never once did I think I would hear the words "I'm going to take him down to Central Bookings" in a positive light. Nevertheless, my first day interning at CJA I heard my Vera mentor say those exact words to another one of my supervisors, referring to me, and I had to stifle a chuckle for the sake of professionalism; as my first day moved along I discovered work in the CJA wheeled along precisely because of such minor instances of humor. This is, in my opinion, rooted directly in the circumstances in which the work is done.

Having seen a Law and Order episode or any cop film, the expectations of any interview, or more likely and interogation, takes place within a blocked off "sound proof" room with a see through mirror. CJA has no such luxury. Due to time constraints rooted in the need to interview arrestees before they see a judge, the interviews take place within a concrete cubicle directly within Central Bookings, side by side with the Officer's desks.

Well protected and ventilated, the cubicle, which has been given numerous nicknames, can put unsuspecting people on edge. Though I presume it is the Bookings building itself, equipped with multiple holding cells, a plethora of prisoners as well as a steady in-moving stream of the arrested, which is to blame. The Bail Expiditing office, located across the street from Central Bookings, on top of the court rooms which try the defendants recently interviewed, sends it's workers through similar conditions: makeshift holding cells filled with those just previously in Central Bookings, to deliver paperwork so as to hold people bailed out before they are sent off to jail. 

This sort of on-edge atmosphere breeds a perpetually developing humor which permeates throughout the staff of CJA. Just as any difficult workplace breeds a more tightly woven comradery then a laid-back workplace, the interviewers and supervisors within CJA exchange as many nicknames as they do papers. And overall, despite the unexpected working conditions, the stressed detainees and pressured atmosphere, CJA is fast paced and a very welcoming place of which I am excited to be a part of. 

Week 2

The second week here at Vera brought me face to face with what I hope is not my future. Allow to explain, as the aformentioned statement sounds like a terrible phrase, however, in reality is merely a motivating realization I am glad to have experienced. 

I hope to one day become a lawyer. Despite the fact I am sure of what I desire my career to be, I am still unsure of which field of law I would like to practice. Due to a lack of direct contact with the field, and also due to the oversimplification and glorification of, as well as the illusions associated with, a career as a lawyer I could not with certainty say to myself: "This is exacty what I want to do every day".

What I was more aware of is in which fields I did not want to practice. Divorce law was almost certainly not what I wanted to be practicing, it is too much like being a psychiatrist to the miserable. Constitutional law is a possibility, if I find that I enjoy theoretical application of my knowledge, but as of now I doubt that since I would love to actually fight cases in court.

Realistically I was expecting to go into some sort of corporate or criminal litigation. The beginning of most criminal litigation careers start in the criminal courts as public defenders. And it was these defenders that I was able to see in action while working with CJA.  As I stated before, after seeing them I am not in any way closer to deciding that criminal litigation in the arraignment process is for me.

Allbeit, I found it very interesting and I have the utmost respect for them. The arguments presented were tactful and intelligent. The only thing that I did not enjoy was the rushed atmosphere of the cases. The lawyers had to work like machine guns: defendant after defendant, five minute cases and only a handfull of words to influence a decision. It was certainly impressive, however very far from any sort of intellectual debate I am striving to experience as a lawyer. 

The Bail Expedition program in which I am currently working spends much time sitting in on these cases I have just described and attempt to aid anyone whose bail has been set within the qualifying range. If the person qualifies, then BEX attempts to contact whoever the defendant recommends, while delaying the defendant's transfer to Rikers Island, in which their release becomes very tangled. 

I'm glad to give a helping hand to such a process, as I have heard many instances of a missed bail payment and the misadventure that ensues for the bailer and bailee. But so far, I am more appreciative of the insight BEX has given ne into the intricacies of criminal law processes.