It's not being held at the prison where he is, but at a correctional facility at another location - with offices, conference rooms, etc. I am hoping we don't have to go through all that patting down business, however, even at our state courts we have to pass through metal detectors and they go through your purse and jacket pockets, etc. Not that difficult child has ever experienced that before.
Of course, at his sentencing hearing, where we had our last 'say' through a 4 page letter I wrote (difficult child was a minor then) and was filtered through the Victims Advocacy office of CT (Hartford), he was claiming all sorts of remorse. I actually did feel a little bad for him as he was leaving behind his little daughter and I just thought how messed up his life is from now on. It didn't help that at 29, he could pass for 19. I mean, talk about a baby face. Even H, who was with me at the sentencing, said, "He's just a kid, for Christ's sake. What a waste of a life." Don't get me wrong, it's not like we felt bad enough for him that they should let him go.
The Victim's Advocate office has assured me that we will be able to listen in on the hearing, but will be in a separate room. I know that difficult child will be disappointed in this arrangement, but I can't risk the small chance that she will be either fall apart or feel bad for him and plead for mercy. Yes, she's that stupid still.
Thank you for sharing your experiences as an employee in the system - it helps a lot. When the date finally arrives, I will be happy to have it behind us till next time.
