Continuances

Continuances are just a part of the legal system. It is very rare for any case to smooth quickly through the legal process. Most cases have numerous continuances issued and each time there is a chance it might feel like a setback for the individual. Recently my case has been pushed back once again as I go to sentencing. For my case continuances have added nearly two extra years of time to the process of finding an answer of what the future might be. With every postponement I have had to learn a level of patience and faith. With this last continuance right before my sentencing date, the level of emotional resilience needed is at its greatest. After reflecting I think I found a level of understanding of why continuances can be so painful and maybe how we can possibly use them to grow.

I think continuances can be so painful for inmates for a couple reasons. I know these reasons apply for me and after talking with other inmates I really don't feel I'm alone in these feelings. First, having these delays in our cases, especially when they are not of our doing, add to the feeling of being powerless that most inmates experience. So much of the legal process seems to strip away a level of your humanity as you are moved from place to place often feeling like nothing more than a forgotten soul, just a number in a bigger machine. This loss of power is something can lead individuals to further isolate from society and turn inwards towards their own breakdown. How do we gain back our power through this slow process with the feeling of painful setbacks.

For me I believe the answer might be in realizing that life is filled with chances to gain new forms of power over our lives if we can learn to not live in an all or nothing existence. We can also learn that our energy can be better spent working to control the portions of our lives that are possible. What I mean by this is that realizing that so many things we all deal with are out of our control in day to day life. So we need to be able to recognize the things we can affect the things we can not. With continuances they are mostly out of our control, but how we react and what we do between the court dates is within our abilities. Being able to let go and give ourselves over to holding faith that we can use each moment for growth in our day is how we might be able to move past the pain of setbacks. To say even though this process might be longer we have the potential to gain by practicing patience and finding ways to keep moving forward during the down periods and not having the faith patience is something that has often led many inmates to jail by overreacting too quickly. Build a patience of faith is a type of power that can never be stripped from us.

The second thing I realized for myself was this continuance delayed a level of clarity I have been searching for. Not just knowing what my sentence will be and in turn when I will finally be home, but also the clarity of having this information will have with those I love. With large parts of cases being unknown it cause strain in relationships because we can't approach those we love with a clear view infront of us. The urge I have to give the people closest to me the clarity of knowing what lays in front of us is something always heavy on my mind. Once again, the answer to this for me has been learning to live in faith to let things run its course. To continue to build my skill of patience and letting things go.

With this delay it will allow me to be better suited and ready to handle the results of what is to come that I might not have been able to handle if I was just rushed through this process. Maybe if my case would have been a quick speedy process I would have broken at the end because I hadn't developed the strength of character needed. Realizing this I have a new level of control and power over my life with the things I can change and a faith I can share. All I know is through this slow process of multiple setbacks I have had a chance to grow into a better emotionally stronger person that is able to give love for myself and others. It took time and patience to get to this point, so giving a little bit more I know I can handle.