Should I cut my Dreads for Court ?

I don't know...make what you feel right

 

Having done some time I would advise you to cut them - dress like your mother - have your lawyer tell the judge you have found jesus and want to remain free so you can go out and feed the poor - find a "I love Bush" sticker - do what ever it takes to get off - the man makes all the rules - "pledge allegiance to the flag, any flag they offer" nothing is worse than going inside - people have went to jail for 30 days and been shanked because they were the wrong color - people inside are not nice folks - I went before a judge years ago with long hair and a fuck you attitude - so they set out to show me that they could break me - they were right - any captive can be broken and that’s what has happened to you - you have been taken prisoner by the enemy - they have no respect for you or your rights - and your lawyer probably eats lunch with the prosecuting attorney. You have to go into a survival mode - stay free so you can live your life as you want too. I probably sound like a crazy old man to you but I swear to you I am telling you the truth - Good luck and do what it takes to stay free.

 

I think you should cut off your hair and dress in a suit- you have to pick your battles. If you think that cutting your hair is going to keep you out of jail, then you should do it.

 

imo many have been prosecuted for there beliefs and ways of living and have made it through the hardships they've faced and come out even more mentally strong than before.my point here is don't just conform to them because they have the upper hand in the situation if everyone did that nothing would ever get changed and the currupt would remain unquestioned.

so basically do what you feel right but if you cut your dreads cut them if you believe thats truly what you want to do not just to suck up to the law enforcement agencies and the pigs.

 

If you cut them, everything you stand for is for naught.

 

why would something stupid like hair determine your fate in court?? Maybe get it trimmed very slightly to tidy them up or somethin and make sure your hair is clean.
But yeah just do what u think is right.

 

i hate how just because your going to court that your dreads could make the judge think differently of you and automatically think your a bad person or somethin. I dont think you should cut them off. Just dress nice and look cute and smile and be nice haha.

 

But if you get sent to jail (God forbid) would your dreads not be cut off in there anyway?

 

then again though people might just be asking you that question because they think it might look untidy...im not saying it is, lol. But my friend has long hair and people asked and wanted him to get his hair cut for a wedding he was attending, but he really didn't bother doing it. i shouldn't worry too much about it really.

 

First -- Ask your lawyer. If he is worth a damn, he should the ins and outs of the State Court system and this judge in particular.

Second -- What is this an intial appearance or sentencing? If this is an initial appearance and its your first offense, you should see if he can work out a reasonable plea arrangement with the prosecutor.

All in all, if there is any benefit to cutting your dreads -- do it. You can always grow them back.

 

Dress nice and propper, and do something to your hair to neaten it up. Maybe trim the stray hair and pull it back or something. I wouldn't cut it, but I would make an effort to look presentable.

 

i agree with both.
on one hand, this is your life, your sentence and you have to live it out. if you think the judge will only look skin deep and base his decisions on what he sees, you might consider cutting them, its not fair, but life seldom is. the thing about court is you are expected to dress and act formally and obediently, things that are often out of character for alot of people. to not cut your hair may give an impression of disrespect or rebelliousness, though it shouldn't.

at the same time, you should always be true to yourself, no matter the cost. and you should be able to do so without fear of being judged unfairly. if this judge is understanding, you could, like others said, shape them up a bit, dress nice and be yourself. maybe by looking him strait in the eye and showing him respect, you can win his approval without changing who you are and what you stand for.

its a tough call, i also think you should talk to your lawyer find out what kind of judge you have. im sure he will encourage you to chop your locks, but ultimately do what you feel is right considering your situation. good luck

 

Lights, peaceful chaos, the other 33 who voted "hell no) have either of you ever BEEN to jail? Pretty easy to tell someone else to screw themselves, when you are sitting all comfy behind a computer and someone may be fighting for their lives in a prison in a matter of weeks.

Do anything in your power to stay OUT of prison. It's a horrible degrading place. It's just a hairdo, that you can grow back soon. A hairdo isn't work losing your freedom for a single minute. As someone else also said, if you get convicted, they'll cut your hair anyway, so what would the point be? There are important things you can do WITH your freedom, which is more important than "making a statement" (which will be totally lost on most judges, they just couldn't care less what your "statement" is) with dreads.

What "should be" and what "Is" are often two different things.

 

just tie it back so it looks clean and tidy.. and wear nice, business-like clothes.

oh, and wear glasses. it might sound rediculous but it works.

 

I see what you're saying, and we definately shouldn't HAVE to cut our hair to cater to them. The fact is though, they are the law, and they will always win. I had a recent thing happen and let me tell ya, I'd cut off my arm to stay out of jail. You're not trying to prove a point here, you're just trying to stay out of jail, right?

 

Exactly. There are better, and more constructive ways of "Making a statement" or proving a point than trying to change the mind of someone who probably hasn't had an original thought since 1950 and isn't going to make any difference in how he treats people with dreads in the future. Keep your freedom, so you can do what you need to in better forums than a court where YOU are the victim.

 

true, very true

 

The sad fact of the matter is that most likely, and I say MOST LIKELY, the judge will have some sort of judgement passed on you based on what you look like. We have to face facts...a lot of people judge others by only looking skin deep. If you think cutting your hair would in ANY way work to your advantage, then I say go for it. The only other advice I could give is that if I were in your situation, I would cut my dreads, sad as it would make me.

 

the fact is, you are going before someone called a JUDGE because that's exactly what he is going to do, JUDGE you. and since your offence is possession of drugs, even if the judge used to be the biggest stoner back in his day, he will probably sock it to ya. they act like herb is bigger offense than murder and sometimes you get more time than if you had offed someone......which i think is the most retarded thing EVER, but what the fuck, they are the geniuses, right???

assholes.........

so in short, if i was in your place, i would cut them.....they can always grow back and it's not like you have been growing them for years and years. like they said, if you go to jail, you will get cropped anyway.....

 

ask your lawyer.

he/she should know what the judge is like, at least. they'll most likely have the best advice.