NVa Prisoner Lost in Translation (Jailed 2mos after case dismissed)

[MountainLaurel]

snip

He said that his brother, Fernando Antonio Cruz, had been left in the county jail and that he should have been freed already. With a few clicks, Kaiser opened a file on her computer and confirmed that his case had been dismissed in December. It was February.

She alerted the clerk's office, which faxed a release order to the jail. Court records show that it was dated 3:01 p.m. Feb. 15, with the handwritten words "was dismissed 12-12-05!!"

Through human error complicated by language and cultural differences, Cruz had been forgotten. Like many immigrants, he had become as invisible inside the criminal justice system as he was outside. As the number of Hispanics has swelled to more than 16 percent of Prince William's 348,588 residents, Cruz's case shows how one immigrant can find himself lost in the judicial system.

Every morning, dozens of Latinos come by Kaiser's desk. Many appear confused, frustrated. Starved for familiarity, they devour her every word, even if her Spanish is a bit broken.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080301624.html

[demnan]

1. My county

Not surprised at all.

[jdlh8894]

2. Not that uncommon

In 1982 in Fulton County (Atlanta), I was held for 42 days AFTER charges were dropped.Was given NO explanation or apology. By the way , I am a white male and an American citizen.