Jessica’s Choices – Prison

[[Jessica’s Choices – Prison]]
Whack, Whack, Whack Judge Tinder’s gavel beat against the block, commanding attention. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury have you reached a verdict?” he spoke aloud through his bushy white beard addressing the courtroom and jury foreman.

“We have your honour.” a red-haired man confirmed shifting uneasily in a tight brown suit and sneaking a glance at Jessica sat numb in her chair.
“And have you reached a unanimous decision?” The judge confirmed, a sneaky smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Ahem….Yes, your honour,” the juror said nodding his head in agreement with the rest of the jury before turning his attention back towards Jessica.
“Miss Stanhead?… be upstanding.” the judge spoke without turning to face the young blond, now sat terrified and keeping his eyes fixated on the presiding juror.

Clang Jessica’s handcuffs and ankle shackles scraped and scratched on the surface of the floor and table as she diligently rose to her feet and stood up straight dressed in only a pair of prison issued grey jogging bottoms and white tank top that barely contained her breasts and showed a considerable amount of side boob.

“Very well then. In the case of the defendant. For attacking officer Hernandez,” the judge spoke, his voice loud and obnoxious as he addressed the entire court and allowed his gaze to wander all around the room before finally ending his surveyance and focusing all of his attention on Jessica. “In the case of Mrs Hernandez vs Miss Stanhead, ladies and gentlemen of the jury how do you find the defendant?” he spoke again, his grey bushy eyebrows furrowing and then raising expectantly at Jessica, as if waiting for a confession.
“We find the defendant guilty.” swam around Jessica’s ears nearly dropping her in the spot where she stood, as the same red haired man spoke as he shuffled on the spot.

Without any hesitation or meandering the judge turned back to the jury, “And how does the jury find the defendant in causing grievous bodily harm?”

“We find the defendant guilty,” the juror confirmed and sent Jessica to her seat in a state of shock, looking around herself frantically, perplexed by the decision.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the court,” The judge began speaking. “Miss Stanhead attacked officer Hernandez, it doesn’t matter why she attacked her, or how sad her life has been. It matters that she attacked an officer of the law. As members of the jury, it’s your job to make sure she pays for her crime. It’s your job to be blind, like justice. That is the only way we can be sure that justice will be served.” he spoke with command and grit in his voice. “Miss Stanhead, I’m sentencing you to twelve months in prison.” He paused, watching tears stream down Jessica’s checks “Guard? Take the defendant away.”

[[A Moment With Her Attorney]](A Moment With Her Attorney).
[[Judge Meeting]](Judge Meeting).

[[A Moment With Her Attorney]]:
“Jessica!” a short, clean shaven young man shouted, practically jumping from his seat, running around the table and taking Jessica’s hand.

“I’m Jonathan Air, I just got hired with LEB Lawfirm. I just got here in time to catch the tail end of the sentencing stage of your trial. I asked to have the guards send you to the meeting room before you were sent off” he said offering his hand to shake again as he walked with Jessica and the guard to the small meeting room.

“IN HERE” The guard sharply said, pushing Jessica through the door first then following her lawyer in behind them.

“I’m sorry, I don’t… Sorry who are you?” Jessica said getting to a seat, tears still running down her face.

“I was an intern under your lawyer for your case, you’re going to have to catch me to speed as I basically just got your name with no info. I do remember your case vaguely but my mentor said it should have never got this far” Jonathan blushed at his incompetence.

“I want all recording in this room to be off, and I want her out of the shackles. If you’re worried you can stand by the door or I can hit this panic button on the table.” Jonathan said loudly trying to act more caviller than his face would allow him.

“Forget it,” the guard answered back sharply, “We’re not chaining this bitch up again”.

“Recorders are off, say what you like.” He opened the door to leave. “Remember, five minutes, we have an appointment to keep.” He gritted through his teeth before he slammed the door hard behind him.

“Look” Jonathan started, staring Jessica in her eyes, “Don’t say anything to anyone, keep to yourself as much as you can. I will pull all the strings I can. I don’t want you to talk to anyone you don’t have to for now, ok? If anyone wants to move you? Request that I have to be there to watch over you.” he added in as caring a voice he could.

“I will get you back in court as soon as I can. I will be blunt with you and I need you to be one hundred percent forth coming with me about everything”. Looking dead in her eyes, “Just between us, are you innocent?

[[Judge Meeting]]:
Jessica stood still, feeling her world crumble around her, How did it get to this, How did it get this far she thought to herself as the guard walked up behind her, grabbing at her shoulders and turning her to the right.

With a vacant expression Jessica allowed the guard to turn her on the spot and diligently moved forward at his pressing, around the table and out of the courtroom.

“This way” The guard spoke almost as if it were a question as he pushed Jessica down a thick wood lined hallway, adorned with huge paintings and sporadic low glow lighting, turning right and left down a maze of corridors until they reached a black plush leather door complete with a diamond shape design and fat buttons running between the diamond points.

“Come in” commanded the voice of the judge on the other side.

The guard reached out over Jessica’s shoulder to push the door open and walked forward to press into her back prompting Jessica to move into the room to see the judge sat behind a large mahogany table, easily as big as a king sized bed, the desk was littered with trinkets and papers. At a slight glance Jessica could tell that the rest of the room was the same, filled with mahogany

and green or dark leathers with little statues or awards of some kind spread around.

“That’ll be all Jakobe” the judge spoke holding out his hand to catch a set of keys, “Lock the door behind you.” he said, receiving the keys and motioning for Jessica to sit down opposite him.