“Every time he comes to court, we’re there for him.”

A family peering at the Santa Clara County Jail, which is located next to the Hall of Justice in San Jose, California. Photo was taken in summer 2021.

Excerpt from an interview with Carmen, the relative of a formerly incarcerated person. Summer 2021.

Interviewer: Okay. So, let's talk about the courthouse yesterday. So first, why were you in court yesterday?

Carmen: To support my nephew.

[…]

Interviewer: Can you tell me why you decided to support your nephew by going to court?

Carmen: Well, um...he --every time he comes to court, we're there for him. When he was very young, we had him for a while...took care of him. His mom was homeless, and they didn't have any place to go so, she came to us, and she asked us if we could take care of him. We said, yes, we would. And he was very young. And, um, then she found a place, and she ended up taking him. And we didn't want him to go, but he wanted to go with his mom.

Interviewer: Hmm.

Carmen: Then he started getting in trouble. […] And we love him very much. But we were there all the time for him, so -- the whole [redacted] years he was in prison, we were always there for him...

Interviewer: Wow --

Carmen: We love him very much.

Interviewer: That's amazing. Can you tell me about, you know, like how frequently did you go to court over those [redacted] years to support him?

Carmen: Oh […] I think it was, like, um...four times...we were there.

Interviewer: Wow. And, you know, over those four times...you know, how did you feel each time you went?

Carmen: Well, the first two times, it was frustrating because he -- they just kept turning us down. We had believed that he shouldn’t have been there. It was very frustrating. And then, the lawyers kept in contact with his mom to let us know what was going on. And then this last two, um, it was very hopeful. I was very happy. Very, very happy.

Interviewer: Yeah --

Carmen: […] you know, the other time he came out. We did a little bit of, like, a phone interview. I get somebody to help me write letters to him. I write him a lot. He used to write back. But yeah, um, these last two times were very, very hopeful. And I was so happy when the judge said he was going to release him. A big old weight off of all of our shoulders because we were very worried for him and then...but it was good -- it was good, um, to know that he was going to get out.

Interviewer: What did it feel like to see him in court, you know, to physically see him in court versus writing letters to him? Did it feel better to get to see him in person or was there something still missing there?

Carmen: No. We've been able to see him. Um, when the judge said that he was going to release him, I cried a lot. I was very happy. So was his mom. Um, it was just me, his mom, [his uncle], and my caregiver that helps me. She was there because she helps me write his letters, too. And, um, he -- they had other family members there. His sister caught Covid, so she couldn't go.

Interviewer: Mm.

Carmen: And, um, two of the nieces were over there, too. They couldn't go either. So, just being -- us being there for him, I know made him feel really good. And then, when the judge said he was going to release him, his whole demeanor -- his face just got like -- he was so happy. Like a big old weight lifted off his shoulders. Because I know [redacted]. And, um, just the way he's -- his body, um, yeah...and his face just turned, like "what a big relief, you know." But it was good. I'm very happy.

Interviewer: Well, that's wonderful. I'm really happy for all of you. For him, of course, but for all of you.

Carmen: Yeah. He was very young when it happened, and he was just following the crowd, you know. Bad people that he got involved with. And the judge said that he followed this case for many years. The judge told him, "You've grown a lot. You've grown to be a good man, and I've been following everything you're doing in there, and you're trying your best to get out. You're a good man now." He told this to [redacted]. So, he was a good judge. And then, I told him, at the end, I said, "Thank you very much, your Honor." He says, "You're welcome." And he was letting us know he did what was fair and […] and it was time for him to get out. So, I really like that judge.