No more prisons.
Monday I went to court because Josh, the boy who broke into my apartment was up for trial. It ended up that I didn't need to be there after all.
These things bothered me:
1. pews like church (super silent, too.)
2. public defenders (compassionless idiots.)
3. marijuana being illegal (connected to number 4.)
4. wasting of my tax dollars (connected to number 2, number 4,number 6.)
5. hot bailiff not checking me out.
6. 'the system' in general.
The state attorney said that he's been flagged as a nuisance and a problem in the system and we are just going to have to keep locking him up. Over and over again. Essentially forever. And, granted, maybe, maybe he'll get clean in there - which will be good - but after that, I just don't see how, jail is ever a very good option for somebody like josh. Or anybody. What good will it do him? What good will it do me? What good will it do society? What good will it do his girlfriend? What good will it do his baby? What good will it do taxpayers?
I think that the attorney and the cop thought that I'd want to see him locked up for taking my stuff. But I'd rather him get drug counseling, learn a valuable skill and help support his 17 year old girlfriend and mother of his child. I didn't know I'd feel this way when something like this happened to me.
And that poor father of two who was stuck in jail for a month because of some weed. And the police officers who spent their whole day in court to make sure that he was locked up, and the public defender who didn't really defend him and the state's attorney. I mean, for marijuana - come on! What a waste of money and time when there are crimes where people are actually being hurt or even killed as we speak! Yikes. Talk about disenchantment with the way things work.
I didn't want to see anyone in that room getting put away in jail. What good would it do? Maybe it would be different if it were a violent crime - I'd want to "keep him off the streets" to keep people safe. I just don't know. But, come on, tell me. Doesn't it seem strange that we keep people in cages?
I have to go back in a month. And then two months - all to make sure that little Joshy gets punished appropriately.
These things bothered me:
1. pews like church (super silent, too.)
2. public defenders (compassionless idiots.)
3. marijuana being illegal (connected to number 4.)
4. wasting of my tax dollars (connected to number 2, number 4,number 6.)
5. hot bailiff not checking me out.
6. 'the system' in general.
The state attorney said that he's been flagged as a nuisance and a problem in the system and we are just going to have to keep locking him up. Over and over again. Essentially forever. And, granted, maybe, maybe he'll get clean in there - which will be good - but after that, I just don't see how, jail is ever a very good option for somebody like josh. Or anybody. What good will it do him? What good will it do me? What good will it do society? What good will it do his girlfriend? What good will it do his baby? What good will it do taxpayers?
I think that the attorney and the cop thought that I'd want to see him locked up for taking my stuff. But I'd rather him get drug counseling, learn a valuable skill and help support his 17 year old girlfriend and mother of his child. I didn't know I'd feel this way when something like this happened to me.
And that poor father of two who was stuck in jail for a month because of some weed. And the police officers who spent their whole day in court to make sure that he was locked up, and the public defender who didn't really defend him and the state's attorney. I mean, for marijuana - come on! What a waste of money and time when there are crimes where people are actually being hurt or even killed as we speak! Yikes. Talk about disenchantment with the way things work.
I didn't want to see anyone in that room getting put away in jail. What good would it do? Maybe it would be different if it were a violent crime - I'd want to "keep him off the streets" to keep people safe. I just don't know. But, come on, tell me. Doesn't it seem strange that we keep people in cages?
I have to go back in a month. And then two months - all to make sure that little Joshy gets punished appropriately.
posted by j-e-s-s-i-c-a at 1:56 PM
3 Comments:
i took an amazing class in college called women in prison, and learned alot in general about the punitive nature of the American correctional system. we should hang out and talk about it sometime.
and anonymous=jenn lang
Seeing what I have seen of the court system--both juvenile and adult--it is somewhat disheartening. Caseloads are huge, attorneys and judges have their own language, and the system itself is so frighteningly overburdened it is insane. I recall when I went to one of the hearings for my mother that a judge was quite adamant in getting a girl treatment, but if she lied to him he was going to throw her in jail. Of course, this case was in the county and did not involve a juvenile.
On the juvenile side, I have seen what has occurred with my nephew. Man, that system is so overburdened it is insane. Add to that the problem of too few social workers and too many cases, it is bewildering.
At the same time, I have seen examples where folks sentenced to jail--family--have done all the right things. I have also seen where it just simply does no good. I think you are completely correct on the need for rehab, but it takes the addict to admit to the problem and take that first step. If you merely force them into rehab in all likelihood it is not going to stick.
Again, though, this is through my own rather jaundiced eye. The system we have is not the best, and it is frustrating seeing it work in large urban areas. Nonetheless, I think there needs to be a sea change in politics at all levels before some of the necessary reforms take place. Unfortunately, in this climate, I do not see it happening soon.
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