Ep. 043: “Lloyd Freeberg: Prison is for People we are Afraid of, Not for People we are Disappointed In.”
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Our criminal justice system has been a blessing for some as it saved my life. However, it has been an absolute nightmare for others as a possession charge prior to it being reduced to a misdemeanor was a felony and could send you to prison with that mark on your record for many years.
As a six-time convicted felon myself, and a criminal history that dates back to when I was sixteen, I made a decision in 2009 to open a program that focused on alternative sentencing to attempt and offer help to those requesting rehabilitation rather than another long stint of incarceration.
I had a long uphill battle in making this happen as I knew nobody in that arena and was requesting assistance by the very department who was chasing me down and arresting me in 1999, 2001 and finally on January 3rd, 2002. This was the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and their task force who saw me at my worse.
With no solid plan on how I would gain the trust by anyone within the sheriff’s department, judges, DA’s, and attorneys, I spent days, weeks, and months walking through the halls of every courthouse in Orange County giving my business cards to bailiffs and requesting to meet with judges. Surprisingly, numerous judges allowed me the opportunity to attempt to sell my program, plan, and integrity.
I wanted to create a program that was accessible to many, which meant an affordable as well as a successful program. It took careful planning since I made sure we had the right staff that were qualified to meet the needs of the people. Throughout this journey of wondering the halls in court, I began meeting people that put their hands out to assist me in this journey. I believe that through my faith, dedication, and social connections, our goal became a reality. I was given attorney clearance in the jails, went back in chambers to work with the defense attorney, and offer an alternative to incarceration as I presented a plan to the district attorney and judge.
Who would have thought that a six-time convicted felon who has been arrested ten times would have access to such proceedings? I reached a point where I was able to walk to the cages in the courtroom and speak to the individual before their case was called.
In Pain, Failure, and Misery are the Stepping Stones to Success, I correlate some of my story from 2001 to Frank Abignale as a conman who played many roles that included a more advanced version of his crimes because of technology. I wasn’t sought by the FBI, but it was more local with the sheriffs department. Even though I didn’t pass the bar as he did, I felt like an attorney during those days.
Listen to Lloyd’s stories of a client who killed a young girl on his second DUI after Lloyd got his first dismissed. Another client who was found dead of alcohol poisoning within days of another successful case. The pain that Lloyd felt caused him to re-evaluate and fight for his clients.
Lloyd Freeberg has over 40 years experience and is one of the most respected lawyers in Orange County, California. What is unique about Lloyd is his advocacy for rehabilitation law. He represents clients to get them out of the system instead of simply getting them off a case.
